Different Abilities

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body?  But now are they many members, yet but one body.

I Corinthians 12:17-19

Why are we not all the same?  Paul addresses this as he discusses the Body of Christ.  He has established that we are one body, and also that we are many members.  He is exploring the relationships of those various members to each other.  In our text he points out that everyone cannot be the same or there would not be a fully functioning body.  Everyone cannot be the eye or the ear or the nose.  The success of the body overall depends on having various, different abilities, and upon the parts that have those abilities performing their roles.  This becomes useful for us to understand why the people of God are as we are.  We can appreciate and admire the diversity which exists in the Body of Christ while understanding that everyone does not have to look the same or operate in exactly the same way.  ‘If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?’  God has made each of us who we are, as we are, because we fulfill a purpose in the larger scheme of things that is exactly that for which He has prepared us.  Thus, the differing abilities which we have are useful in the Body to bring glory to Christ, Who is the Head overall.

Our Good and Wise God,
we rejoice that You value variety.
We praise You that You have given us our different abilities,
so that we being many, may contribute to the whole.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning