“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…But one and the same works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ…For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, “because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11-12, 14-25).

Have you ever given any thought to these verses? Have you ever wondered if there is a mission to your life, something God created you to accomplish while on earth? Now most of us have heard of or read the book “The Purpose-Driven Life,” but have you thought about the possibility that there is a reason why you are here? In the above passage, Paul points out that we all are gifted for a purpose. We see this when he makes statements like “to each one” twice and the phrase “for the common good.” There is a reason why you are here.

We each have differing specific life purposes. Paul lists these gifts in (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). He also refers to these different roles by referring to us as having different parts of the body in (1 Corinthians 12:14-17, 21). In fact, he says plainly, “there are varieties of gifts…ministries…[and] effects” (vs. 4-6). We all have a specific role to play, but the same general role.

Each gift is to be used for the general purpose of life. We are to work towards “the common good” (vs. 7). The way we are to work towards that common good is to “care for one another” (vs. 25). The “care for” is referring to leading others to maturity in Christ, as we will see below. The body “has many members,” with different abilities, but they “are one body,” with one purpose (vs. 12). It is for this reason that Paul said “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). He also points out the specific description of this general purpose in two passages. “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). God intended ministers to train all believers to work towards “the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

When I attend a church, what is my motivation? When I become a part of, join, or become a member of a church, what do I want? As we can see above, our intentions should be to help everyone we can to become mature Christians. We are to do this as a part of the church, specifically a local church. It is this reason that Paul goes into great detail of our being a part of the body. When we make a decision to switch churches, what are the reasons? Is it because we don’t like the preaching, music, or dress? Once we have joined a church, we have joined that family of Christ. Once we join, we seek to fulfill God’s general purpose for our lives. We do everything we can to help that church grow in number and in spiritual maturity. We only switch churches if the leadership of that church no longer follows the Bible, God’s mission, or the Lord has specifically told us there is a need for us to go elsewhere. What church do you attend? What are you doing at that church? How are you helping? Do you see the mission of the church as that which should only be fulfilled by the leaders or the way that God sees it? The reason why God gave church leaders was to train us how to advance the kingdom of God. Are you just going to switch churches whenever you find a weakness instead of helping to correct it or because you are just annoyed with something? Are you just going to attend the services and then take off once the service is over? Are you just going to complain about what the church is not doing or not doing correctly? Are you just going to stay at home because no church is good enough for you? When will you realize that you have imperfections and so does everyone else? It is this reason that we should go to church, because we have a lot of work to do in ourselves and in others. Will you accept this mission? Please see your pastor, minister, or priest to find out how you can help achieve God’s purpose within your local church.