Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 12:11-31 – A Spleen for Jesus
God needs every part of the Body. No matter what gift He has given you and what part you are, be faithful as the person God has called you to be
What happens when we spend more time comparing ourselves to others than using the gifts God has given us? In today’s reflection, Andy continues through 1 Corinthians 12 as Paul describes the Church as the body of Christ. Every member has a purpose, every gift matters, and no calling is more important than another. Whether you’re an eye, an ear, or even a spleen, God has uniquely equipped you to strengthen His Church. The challenge isn’t becoming someone else—it’s faithfully becoming the person God created you to be.
Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.
You can read today’s passage here.
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Good morning! It’s good to be with you on this Thursday morning. I hope you’re doing well as we rapidly approach the weekend.
Today is shaping up to be a day of planning and writing, which I always enjoy. I’m still wearing my Starkville High School gear because I had the opportunity to speak with the football team yesterday. Well...technically, I’m recording this a day ahead, so as I’m speaking to you I haven’t done it yet. But by the time you’re watching or listening, it’ll have already happened.
That’s always one of the funny things about recording these reflections ahead of time.
I really enjoyed spending time with those young men, and what we talked about actually connects beautifully with today’s passage.
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12:12–30.
Yesterday Paul introduced us to the idea of spiritual gifts. Today he takes that idea one step further.
Those gifts aren’t given simply for our benefit.
They’re given for the good of the whole body of Christ.
Paul paints this wonderful picture of the church as a human body.
The foot can’t say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong.”
The ear can’t say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t matter.”
Likewise, the eye can’t look at the hand and say, “I don’t need you.”
Every part matters.
Every part belongs.
Every part has a purpose.
A body made up entirely of eyes wouldn’t function very well.
Neither would a body made up entirely of feet.
Or ears.
Or hands.
God created the body so that each part contributes something unique, and that’s exactly how the church works.
I especially love what Paul says about the parts of the body that seem less important.
We have a tendency in the church to put far too much emphasis on the public gifts.
We notice the preacher.
We notice the worship leader.
We notice the musicians.
Those are wonderful and important callings.
But they’re not the only important callings.
I couldn’t do what I do without dozens of people you’ll probably never see.
People who quietly prepare classrooms.
People who greet visitors.
People who organize ministries.
People who pray faithfully.
People who care for children.
People who balance budgets.
People who serve behind the scenes without ever standing in front of a congregation.
The church simply doesn’t function without them.
I used to hear people say to little boys who dressed up for church, “Well, maybe you’ll be a preacher someday.”
I don’t really say that anymore.
Not because preaching isn’t a wonderful calling—it absolutely is.
But I never want a child to think that’s the highest calling in the church.
It isn’t.
The church doesn’t need all preachers.
The church doesn’t need all musicians.
The church doesn’t need all teachers.
The church doesn’t need all administrators.
The church needs all of us.
Each person faithfully living out the gifts God has given them.
Comparison is a thief.
When we spend all our time wishing we had someone else’s gifts, we stop developing the gifts God has entrusted to us.
The truth is, there’s something only you can contribute.
There’s something God has uniquely placed within you that no one else can offer in exactly the same way.
Your spouse can’t do it exactly like you.
Your children can’t do it exactly like you.
Your pastor can’t do it exactly like you.
God created you with gifts that are uniquely yours.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in ministry came when I stopped trying to preach like somebody else.
Early on, I found myself comparing my preaching to other pastors.
I’ve learned a tremendous amount from gifted preachers over the years.
I’ve borrowed ideas.
I’ve learned leadership.
I’ve become a better pastor because of them.
But I finally realized something.
I’m never going to be Tim Keller.
I’m never going to be Andy Stanley.
I’m never going to preach exactly like anyone else.
And that’s okay.
My calling isn’t to become someone else.
My calling is to faithfully become who God has called me to be.
To be honest, every pastor feels this struggle today.
Here’s our little dirty secret.
With podcasts, YouTube, and social media, anyone can listen to some of the greatest preachers in the world every single week.
Every pastor knows there are better communicators out there.
If we spend our lives comparing ourselves to them, we’ll never faithfully serve the people God has entrusted to us.
The same is true for all of us.
Don’t let your gifts make you feel superior to someone else.
But don’t let them make you feel inferior either.
Whatever gifts God has given you weren’t given to elevate you.
They were given to strengthen the body of Christ.
God doesn’t need a church made up entirely of eyes.
Or ears.
Or hands.
He needs the whole body.
Eyes.
Ears.
Feet.
Hands.
Knees.
Kidneys.
Even spleens.
So if you’re a spleen...
Be a spleen for Jesus.
Live out the gifts God has given you with humility, joy, and faithfulness, knowing that every gift matters because every gift comes from God and is meant for the good of His Kingdom.
Tomorrow we’ll turn to one of the most beloved chapters in all of Scripture—1 Corinthians 13. And I think you’ll discover it has even more power when we read it in the context of everything Paul has been saying about spiritual gifts.
Thanks for being with me today. I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you again tomorrow morning.