Quick Note – 1 Corinthians 12:18 – Specifically Designed

1 Corinthians 12:17-20 – ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? ¹⁸ But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹ If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Have you ever wanted to be someone other than who you are?  I don’t mean looking to attain a goal to become someone God wants you to be, because all of us should stive to become the best person God has made us to be.  But I want you to consider whether you are trying to become something you are not.  If you are trying to fulfill a job or act in a way that God has never meant you to be.

To make it clearer, let me give you a few examples.  I would love to be a professional NBA basketball player, but I certainly do not have the skills nor height nor build to do so.  I could develop the skills by practicing.  I could even get the build by working out.  But I certainly could not clear the height barrier.  Let me give you another example.  I know of a lot of people who would love to become soloists in the choir.  But the unfortunate thing is that they simply cannot carry a tune.  They are just tone deaf.  Now, that is not to say they shouldn’t praise God in singing, for God would happily receive a joyful noise, but the person shouldn’t try to become a soloist.  It is just not his or her gift. 

1 Corinthians 12 talks about spiritual gifts.  Paul addressed the Corinthian church about this issue, because he knew many of them desired certain gifts, specifically, the gift of tongues.  They wanted to be able to speak in this angelic language.  However, not all of them, had that gift.  So some Christians in that church likely felt inadequate.  They were likely telling themselves that if they didn’t have that gift, then they were worthless.  This is why Paul used the example of a foot saying, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” and an ear saying, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body.”  People felt like they didn’t deserve to be a part of the body, because they didn’t have certain gifts. 

But Paul wanted to correct this mentality.  He told them, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?”  He wanted them to know that they each had a role that was necessary for the body to function.  Yes, they might not speak in tongues.  They might not preach or teach or sing.  But they had a role to play and that role was important.  And most importantly, that role was chosen by God.  Verse 18 said, “God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”  God picked that person to play that specific role.  He specifically selected, created, designed you to play the role that He wants you to play in the church. 

So don’t ever feel inadequate, because you don’t have another talent that someone else has.  God has made you the way He wanted you to be made.  He designed you perfectly even in your mother’s womb.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).  Take joy in that and fulfill the role that He has for you, because without you, the church would be missing something very important.