Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul once wrote to Timothy a familiar verse: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV). What is not so familiar is the next verse, where he wrote: “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
Paul understood a couple of things of which he wrote in these two verses: (1) That he was the chief among the sinners of his time, and thus he needed the salvation Christ offers, and (2) that he had received that mercy for a reason – he had work to do.
Like Paul, each one of us has been set apart from the world for a purpose. Paul also wrote “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). No doubt, the church is holy – that is, the church (which means you and me individually as well as collectively) has been sanctified, set apart for God’s special purpose. What purpose is that? The Scriptures say that purpose is good works. The obligation is placed upon every one of us to fulfill that responsibility.
In Romans 12:4-5, we are told that each individual within the church is a member of the body of Christ. This means that every individual has a job to do. In my arm and hand, there are hundreds of parts including individual bones, muscles, tendons, the nervous system, skin, etc. Yet, they work as one arm in order to accomplish my goals. If one part refuses to work, I cannot accomplish what I wish. This is comparable to the church.
If we are to grow and accomplish what our Lord has commissioned us to do, every member must work according to his and her abilities! The church is a system – every part relies on the other. If any part of the system doesn’t work, the task is not accomplished and the system is shut down because it is no longer profitable to the rest of the body.
This is also why division amongst us is so terrible! If my thumb and my index finger decide they can no longer get along, and they choose to cut ties from each other, then I can no longer write this article, because my thumb and finger will not work together to hold the pen. They then both become unprofitable to me, and the work does not get done.
This puts a great deal of responsibility on each part. We have the duty to work – and we are held accountable for that duty. This brings to mind Jesus’ Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Indeed, “Woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16b).
