Nancy Hughes: Are you a boring, unimportant tuba?

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

I Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)

Although my grandson Noah didn’t realize it, he taught me a great lesson about the role each Christian has as part of the body of Christ. I picked him up from school and as he loaded his tuba in my car, he commented “Ya know, Grandma. The tuba really doesn’t seem like it can do much. A note here. A note there. Some people might think it’s kinda boring and not very important.”

I smiled. “No, I don’t imagine that the sound of the tuba by itself seems very exciting.” He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t. But it has a unique sound. And the thing is,” he continued, “when the tuba and all the other instruments are being played together, the outcome is amazing!”

Is that not the perfect description of the body of Christ working together to share Him with everyone around us? By ourselves, we may not think our talent is of any value. But combine it with the gifts of our brothers and sisters in Christ and we become bonded together with one significant focus: being the example of Jesus in a world that does not know Him.

I Corinthians 12:12 addresses that very concept. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” There is much to learn here.

First, just like the tuba, no matter how insignificant we think our contribution is to the Lord, He considers it to be a special part of the whole – His body. Our gifts and talents are different, yes, but they can all be used for Him. For example, I may not speak in front of large groups but I can visit one on one with those in the local nursing home. While I am not able to be a missionary in a foreign country as some do, I can share Jesus with those around me who do not know Him.

Even though obligations may keep me from going to areas destroyed by floods and hurricanes, I can help load a semi with badly needed items that people are desperate to have. And despite the fact that I may not be able to play a note on the piano, I can write a note of encouragement to someone who is struggling.

Secondly, each band instrument has its own sound by itself and that sound is just fine. But when they are all played together in harmony, the result is a beautiful piece of music. In the same way, the members of the body of Christ must work together with their unique talents to share Jesus with everyone around them.

So is a tuba boring and unimportant? Not at all. And neither is the talent that the Lord has gifted you as His child. When we work together, the result is a masterpiece for the Master.

Father, thank you for gifting each of us with different ways to share you with the world. Help us to work together as one body in all that we do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up

Reflect

Do you ever feel that your gift from the Lord is not as important as someone else’s gift?

If so, do you consider your life to be of no value to the Lord?

Apply

Journal all the ways you can serve those around you as part of the body of Christ.

Invite Christian sisters to your home. Write down each person’s gifts and talents along with ways to work together to show Jesus to those around you.

Power

I Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”

I Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.)