Comparison
is the thief of joy. --President Theodore Roosevelt
This
quote was shared with me when I was younger, when I may have been looking at
friend’s clothes that were cooler than mine or focused on someone who seemed to
get all the sports’ accolades in my school. But no matter what our age, it is
an important sentiment, especially when considering the church, the Body of
Christ.
Isn’t
it true that we all want to be valued and have importance? Yet our human view
of value doesn’t stem from the same perspective as our gracious God.
I love
how Paul in 1 Corinthians 12: 14-26 acknowledges that certain parts of the
body, both physical and figurative are more prone to honor and
distinction...but that all parts are vital and valued in God’s eyes.
When we take our eyes off the important role that God has created
us to serve and focus on others’ callings, we can lose our connection with God,
deny our own calling, and miss the fulfillment and joy of serving God as He has
called us to do. Worse, when we strive to be something we are not, we expend
energy on something that is bound to leave us frustrated.
When we compare our role in the Kingdom of God, we either look
down on others and judge their work as less important, or we inflate our own
importance and lose our ability to walk in humility.
God decides what is right. He sees the big picture. As one part of
the body, we can’t possibly understand the intricacies and details he has
planned. Different people have different experiences, perspectives and
strengths; thank God He sees all and can place us, when surrendered to Him, to
serve Him best. And when we are following God’s will in this way, both
ourselves and the church will thrive!
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