Playing Our Part

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Actors and actresses play various roles. Each one has their part to play. In a play or movie we see lots of different parts that are played. Some parts are called leads and others supporting roles. However a play or movie wouldn’t be worth watching with just one actor or actress. It takes the whole production team together to make a hit.

1 Corinthians 12:25-31 (MSG)

25-26 The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
27-31 You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body”: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, organizers, those who pray in tongues.
But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts.
But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.

Apostle Paul is trying to explain to the Corinthian church how each member has a role to play within the body of Christ. He is letting them know that there is not one member who is more important or significant than another. He stated that they all have a role and that role is given out by the Holy Spirit. They must accept the role they are given and then their part will have significance and meaning.

We sometimes assign importance to certain roles within and without the body of Christ. As Christians we have been given or assigned a part within the body of Christ. Only when we accept the role given can we begin to play that part. We can’t spend our lives wishing for a different role or thinking our role is any less significant than another. Even outside the body of Christ, as humans, we give more importance to certain roles over others. However, even outside of Christ no role is more important than another.

How could a person eat bread if no one planted wheat? If there was no baker, mechanic, contractor, or factory worker where would we be? No one role is more important than another. God gives out the roles and as we look to Him, we can trust that we are playing our perfect part.

A pastor is only acting out of obedience playing their role, but they are no more significant that any other member within the body of Christ. It’s important for us to recognize our part and perform it to the best of our ability. Our part may change within the body of Christ as God leads us. However, whatever part we are to play is as important as any other part. There is no such thing as an unimportant part.

Let’s begin today to recognize that every member of the Body of Christ is vitally important. Each Christian is only one part of the Body and we all need each other. We also need to recognize that we have missing parts, which are found in our lost brothers and sisters in the world. We need to reach out today and let them know that there is a casting call today and a part for them to play. They are wanted, needed and loved by their Creator.