How Necessary Am I?

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

I Corinthians 12:14-21

Each and every member of the body of Christ (the church) is absolutely necessary. Each person brings with them different abilities, different contacts to people to teach, and each has a different section of scripture that they understand particularly well.

Sometimes it is hard to realize how big of a role we each play in the church. And sometimes, we only think of what we do during the assembly and think, “Wow, I just can't do much.” When we limit our thinking to the assembly, we lose much.

First, because our thoughts in the worship assembly should not be focused on, “what can I do?” We should be focused on the Lord. Sometimes the people sitting in the pews are called the audience. The fact of the matter is that each and every person is an active participant, and the audience is God. As such, even if you're not standing in the front of the building, you're an active and necessary part of the service!

Second, we need not limit our thinking about participation to the assembly. Each person has skills and talents that can be used to further the Lord's work outside of the assembly. Each person knows different people than other Christians, who can be brought the gospel.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:11-12

Everyone would think it odd if the preacher did not ever preach on the Lord's Day. And rightly so. After all, he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing. And everyone would think the same thing if the Bible class teacher never showed up for Bible class.

Well, each of us has something we need to be doing. Each has a vital role to be playing. And when we don't, we are accomplishing the same amount as the preacher who doesn't preach and the teacher who doesn't teach. We are failing in our role, and we are letting down those who are depending on us. There's something that you do better than the rest of us. You are needed in the body of Christ. Whether your skills and role are public or more private, they are necessary and important to the work of Christ.