Insignificant Spiritual Gift? Go Stub Your Toe!

21The 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." 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26


Earlier today I was talking with a sales vendor at work about his broken pinky toe. He looked pretty pathetic limping all over the store. I likened his toe to 'that thing that you never think about until you hurt it.'

Maybe you see yourself as possessing the 'pinky toe' of spiritual gifts. Maybe no one really notices you or thanks you for serving the church or even knows exactly what spiritual gift you possess.

Do not belittle your God-given gifts or envy others' gifts. The Spirit gave you the perfect gifts to serve your church body in the exact way they need to be served. That is amazing!

The body works best when all of its' organs and limbs and parts are working correctly and cohesively. A broken pinky toe causes pain, loss of balance, and over-compensation. Surely the body suffers when the toe is not functioning the way it should; just as it thrives when the toe serves the body in its' intended ways.

Embrace and cultivate your spiritual gifts for the glory of God and for the good of His church. No matter how insignificant you think your gifting is, it is not insignificant to the body/church. There is room neither for pride nor for discontentment in your spiritual gift--each receives what the Spirit of God wisely bestows. We can trust Him.