“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.'” – 1 Corinthians 12:21
God has blessed every Christian with a unique combination of gifts, skills, experiences, and talents. He does this specifically so we’ll weave our lives together with those of other believers to create local churches containing every gift, skill, and talent needed to proclaim Jesus, make disciples, and minister in this lost and hurting world as one united body.
We must choose to weave our lives into those of other believers or else we’re like those impossible body parts Paul mentions in this verse, dismissing others parts as unnecessary. It’s absolutely essential for every Christian to be actively serving within a local church. When we don’t serve we miss out an essential part of God’s calling on our lives. We also leave the bride of Christ lacking in some necessary area.
It’s also absolutely essential that we value the gifts, talents, skills, and experiences of other believers, no matter how different they may be from our gifts, talents, skills, and experiences. It’s natural to believe our gifts and passions are the most important, but they’re all necessary. That’s exactly why God made each Christian as He did — so that in every church, large or small, there will be people passionate and prepared for all the needed functions of Christ’s body, the church.
Take time to reflect on your own connection to a local church. Are you well integrated? Are you putting your gifts, skills, and talents to work as an eager eye or fantastic foot? If not, you need to carefully consider your situation in light of the Bible’s clear teaching – no Christian can or should go it alone!