1 Corinthians 12:18

Context
1 Corinthians 12 NIV
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
 
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
 
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
 
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
 
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
 
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
 
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
 
Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
 
Footnotes

• 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
• 1 Corinthians 12:10 Or languages; also in verse 28
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 Or with; or in
• 1 Corinthians 12:30 Or other languages

 
Devotional
One of the easiest ways to become ineffective is to spend our time wishing we were somebody else. I wish I could preach like them. I wish I could sing like them. I wish I had their personality. I wish I could lead like them. I wish God had given me their gift. But Paul reminds us that the body doesn't function because every part is identical. It functions because every part is different. The hand doesn't need to become the foot. The eye doesn't need to become the ear. And you don't need to become somebody else to be useful to God. God intentionally made you. Your personality isn't an accident. Your story isn't meaningless. Your experiences aren't wasted. Your weaknesses don't disqualify you. God can take all of those things and bring them together with the spiritual gift He has placed in you. So stop asking: “Why didn't God make me like them?” Start asking: “God, how do You want to use what You put in me?” You don't need somebody else's gift. You need to be faithful with yours.

Reflect

• Who do you find yourself comparing yourself to?
• What is one thing about yourself that you've viewed as a limitation that God might use for His purpose?
• Have you thanked God for the way He uniquely made you?

Prayer
Lord, forgive me for comparing myself to others. Thank You for making me uniquely who I am. Help me stop wishing for someone else's gift and become faithful with what You have placed in me. Take my personality, my experiences, my abilities, my testimony, and my spiritual gifts and use them together for Your purpose. Amen.