Jun 24, 2013
We need all gifts from all ages
By Casey Greene
A couple of weeks ago our church had a retreat. We do these from time to time to fellowship with one another and reevaluate what we’re doing and where we’re going as a church.
This time was no different. We all got into our groups and started talking about ideas or thoughts.
As I looked around my group I noticed something. We were all youth. The oldest among us was only 19. We had pretty much segregated ourselves. It wasn’t intentional, it was just natural.
A couple of others in the group also pointed this out. We realized that this could become a problem.
As the youth of our church, we took the initiative and announced that we were going to “step it up.” We decided we would become more involved and that we would make an effort to connect with the older people in the church.
We decided we didn’t just want to be the church’s “someday”—we wanted to be the church’s “today.” We were on a roll.
I’m not going to lie. Once we decided this I was kind of patting myself on the back. “Oh, look how good I am…” We all struggle with different sins and one of mine is pride.
It wasn’t until later that I realized I didn’t do anything that great. I had just obeyed what God had been instructing all along. 1 Corinthians 12:12 states, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
What I really like is the part that says “and though all its parts are many, they form one body.” This is a great example of my church. We are all very different. Some are young, some are old. We are all important.
Also, we all need each other. We cannot accomplish what God wants us to do if we only use the people we are comfortable with. We cannot move forward and do His will if we put limitations on who He can use.
“Oh! Yes God, of course I’ll do that! One little request: I need You to use so-and-so to do it because she and I are really close and I know it’ll work out and it would just be so great….” We can’t do this, but I was trying anyway. I had to realize that everyone in my church was a part of the body, not just my small circle of friends.
Another verse that fits into this perfectly is 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 which says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…”
This talks about how much we need each other. My church needs all of its people. We all have different jobs in the church. I lead in worship while Melinda makes everyone instantly feel welcomed. The church needs my gift, just as much as it needs Melinda’s. Does it matter that we are 40 years apart? Of course not! God uses us both, in our own special ways. This was another important lesson I needed to learn.
Unity is a challenge. To find the revival we all seek, we must be unified in our churches, as a denomination, and as Christians as a whole. This is extremely important.
To do this we all must realize each other’s value, and be willing to connect with one another. Only God can do this, but thankfully all things are possible with Him.
