All from One and one for All

1 Corinthians 12:1-31


All from One and One for All

We all understand what it is to be equipped with skills for the job we have. In college we all take general education classes but we major in one specific area that we excel in. For those that become teachers they major in a specific field such as Mathematics or English and others in different things but they all work together collectively at a school to prepare people in all fields of study. The body of Christ which is the church works much in the same way. Each person studies and learns about Christ and His will for their life. However He gives each person an area in which they excel and that gifting is cultivated and used to bless others.

Our university, if you will, is Alpha Omega Tech. God and Jesus are our source for all knowledge and wisdom.

“…both of the Father and of Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2b-3)

Paul wants to emphasize unity even more in regards to the church and the use of Spiritual giftings. We see that all gifts are ALL FROM ONE (Jesus) and there is at lest ONE FOR ALL in Christ. It is important to note that everyone doesn’t get every gift but each on is given according to God divine wisdom and will. We do not associate a specific gift with salvation nor do we associate the lack of a certain gift as not true salvation.

I’m glad that at my high school there weren’t just math teachers. Though I might have been really good at math I would have been unable to right this commentary because of the lack of English skills. If everyone in the body of Christ were teachers then who would be in the pews or who would clean the church and who would evangelize on the streets. The list of Spiritual gifting is big enough that everyone can possess at least one gift. God gives freely to those who ask Him.

“(7) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (9) Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)

It’s important to know that we give to our children what is best and what is needed. We also withhold things that are harmful even if it seems ok to them because we know more than they do. God works the same way and not everyone is gifted the same so we can work in unity like a body that needs each part to function properly so the body as a whole functions collectively. When a piece is missing or is hurt the body ministers to the weak part in order to bring things back to wholeness.

If a portion of the body rebels like a cancerous cell then the whole body crashes to a halt. When Christians rebel against each other it is cancerous to the proper function of the church body. Like any self absorb cancerous cell it must be corrected or expelled.

“(24) If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (25) And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Matthew 3:24-25)

Desire the best gifts that God has preordained for your life and discipline yourself to excel in those things and God will be glorified in our unity as a church family.