Word from The WORD: The Title‘LESS’ Message

Greetings in the name of our God, who is a God of varieties!

You might be wondering what a Title ‘Less’ Message is? Even as the message unfolds, it will make sense.

colorful Just imagine, how it would be if there was only one season? How it would be if there was only one colour? How it would be if there was only type of food to eat all the time? How it would be if we were all to look the same? We all like and want variety, isn’t it? Have you looked closely at children? Little children like different things and different colours. Once they get bored with one, they need another. This liking for variety grows in us as we grow. The Bible also lists various varieties.

“For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.” 1 Corinthians 15:39-41 (ESV)

Diversity is seen everywhere and in all things. The Bible talks about four main diversities/varieties in 1 Corinthians 12th chapter:

1. 12:4 – “Now there are varieties of gifts,…”

2. 12:5 – “and there are varieties of service,…”

3. 12:6 – “and there are varieties of activities,…”

4. 12:13 – varieties of people; “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

There are varieties in gifts, ministry, activities and people. But in Christendom people want to imitate and duplicate. Because in general they don’t accept differences and appreciate uniqueness.

Why diversities of gifts, ministries and activities?

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

Diverse gifts and ministries are given so that we might serve one another. But the people are also diverse – based on languages, geography, culture, states, communities, etc. People also vary based on their personality. In general all people’s personality is categorised into four types as Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholy and Phlegmatic. Though this is a vast subject, for our understanding you can watch the following video.

All of us are made different and yet we are called to serve one another. When we look at the above verse in 1 Peter we see that we are not owners, but “stewards” – stewards of the gifts. (4:10) So we cannot use them as we wish, but in the way God wants them to be used. And we cannot boast about anything. Because the strength/ability is supplied by God (4:11) and in everything only God should be glorified.

So when we use our gifts/ministries and exhibit our personalities we need to ask this question – Whether God would be glorified through this?

Though we are different we are called to live in unity. But UNITY does not mean UNIFORMITY, but UNITY in DIVERSITY and it is best seen and epitomized in the TRINITY. That’s why while Paul writing about the diversity of gifts he keeps saying,

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)

That’s why Jesus praying in the High Priestly prayer, prayed:

“that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” John 17:21-22 (ESV)

But differences always bring disturbances and disputes. Here we will see the four major disturbances that arise because of differences and the solution.

1. Who is the greatest?

stand out The differences did not leave the disciples of Jesus too.

“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.” Mark 9:33-34 (ESV)

When we look at the context we understand the reason for their dispute. His disciples could not heal a boy. So the father of the boy brings him to Jesus saying,

“And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”” Mark 9:22 (ESV)

The father is asking Jesus “if you can do anything”. The NRSV translation reads, “if you are able” So, the question here is about ABILITY. But Jesus replies,

““‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”” Mark 9:23 (ESV)

Jesus says it is not ABILITY, but FAITH.

After a while when the disciples ask Him about their inability He says,

““This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”” Mark 9:29 (ESV)

But the disciples forgetting the point on ABILITY might have disputed over their SPIRITUALITY!

We all are different in our abilities and spirituality, but we are not to boast about it as 1 Peter 4:11 says it is supplied by God.

Differences can always put us in a situation where we would question everyone’s ability and spirituality, all the while questioning ‘who is the greatest?’

2. I am not important

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-16 (ESV)

I am not important Differences can also bring forth conflicts over power, position, privileges, preferences and priorities.

“I am not given this privilege”

“He is preferred over me”

“When so many are promoted, why am I not given any recognizable position?”

All such questions pop up in our head and we start feeling inferior. And as said in the above verse, “Because I am not ________, I do not belong to __________” and we decide not to belong, because we are not considered. But the verse very clearly says, “that would not make it any less a part”! We are who we are because of His grace and His enablement. No one and nothing can and should determine our importance, when we are precious in the sight of God.

3. You are not like me

“If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?” 1 Corinthians 12:17 (ESV)

Different When we see a difference in others and in their gifts and expressions, we may not like them. And we might expect others to be like us. Even Paul had wished like that,

“I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” 1 Corinthians 7:7 (ESV)

But he accepts the fact that all are different and have been given different gifts.

Because we do not like someone and their activities which are different, we may not like to be with them also. We might question God, “Why did you set him/her with me?” “Why did you put me under him?” But the Bible says,

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” (1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV)

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11 NKJV)

It is God who sets people as He pleases and distributes different gifts and abilities as He wills. If we are fighting against it, then we are fighting against God’s choice!

Paul reminds us in Romans,

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith” Romans 12:3-6 (ESV)

Our functions are different. Let us not expect others to come into our mould and likeness.

4. I don’t need you

“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 (ESV)

Differences can also bring in the attitude of superiority. Where we might think that we are self sufficient and we need no one.

“No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” (1 Corinthians 12:22)

We need others. The following video beautifully portrays how we need everyone.

Everyone is essential in God’s kingdom.

For us to stay clear of all the above four disturbances we need to:

Respect one another irrespective of their position and qualification-

“and 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, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it” 1 Corinthians 12:23-24 (ESV)

Care for one another -

“that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25 (ESV)

Suffer for one another & support one another (selflessness) -

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV)

Paul lists several positions and gifts:

“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 (ESV)

But he tells us to earnestly desire for not “positions”, but “gifts”.

“But earnestly desire the higher gifts….” 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

Why? Because the purpose is to SERVE. Leadership is not positional, but functional!

And Paul goes onto say in the same verse,

“…..And I will show you a still more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV)

And the more excellent way to serve is through love. He goes onto explain what love is in the 13th chapter. In the first three verses he says that even if I have Gifts, Understanding, Knowledge, Faith, Kindness and Sacrifice, “but have not love, I HAVE NOTHING”. He continues to expound on the Characteristics of Love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.