When We Take Too Much Upon Ourselves

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: 1 Corinthians 12:14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Observation: So true.

Application: It’s tempting, at times, to feel that we are responsible for everything. To somehow delude ourselves into thinking that the world, or portions thereof, will not go on without us…or at least not as well.

It’s a tenuous position. On the one hand, we are vitally important. God works through us. We are part of the body. But when we cease seeing ourselves as channels and begin seeing ourselves as in charge…well, then it’s easy to overstep our bounds and not so easy to know when to take a step back. Often we both take on more stress than necessary and, at times, cause more stress than necessary…to the point that the whole body of Christ hurts.

When the rest of the body of Christ hurts, it sometimes responds in the name of Christ but not like Christ. Responding in kind is, well, not necessarily kind. Lifting up Bible verses to justify our position/opinion is far easier—and far less effective—than owning and naming our own anxiety as we struggle to figure out how to love when we’re not sure we either want to or can.

Still, the body of Christ does not consist of one member but of many. I find great comfort in such things. It means that none of us has feel like we to have all the right answers—or even any of them! Instead we can trust that the one around whom the body of Christ gathers is none other than the crucified and risen Christ himself. His assurance is sufficient. In him we who are many are one.

Prayer: Lord, whenever we feel more responsible than necessary, help us to take a step back in order that we might demonstrate our trust in you and in the other members of the body you have so graciously provided. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Job 37-38 and 1 Corinthians 12)