Work today
“If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?” 1 Corinthians 12:17
Today I want to talk about differences. Criticism can stem from the frustration of people doing things differently than others. Because you are different than I am, you see things differently than I can see them. Therefore, you have another perspective and get things accomplished in your own way. Neither of us may be wrong, we are just different. Let me give you an example of what I mean.
I see many people at my job that become frustrated with management because management must look at the big picture while the employee is focused on their own position and the ways to make it easier to get their job done. So, when the boss doesn’t see things from the employee point of view the employee begins to complain and criticize the way things are handled and think they could do their boss’ job better.
In the same way, it is easy to become frustrated with people doing things differently than you would like them done. This is often seen in close relationships and even marriages. Your closest friends can be the most frustrating at times because they just do things differently than you would do them.
I believe we can learn some about this from today’s scripture. God made us all to have a different perspective and there are some very good reasons why.
1. If we didn’t have diverse points of view, we would all see things the same way which would cause us to do things all the same resulting in a very boring world.
2. He designed us with differences, so we have to work together and learn from one another to accomplish things.
3. He gave us a variety of gifts and abilities to complement each other and in the case of most marriages, we balance each other out.
Where one person is weak, the other is strong in that area and vice versa. Also, bringing two perspectives or ideas together can translate into a third possibility and better solution they may have never been considered without a difference of opinions. That’s what becomes the most frustrating. If you are anything like me, you would rather just get the job done your way, but that is not the way God wants us to be. He wants us to meet, commune, and brainstorm with each other often. He made us different so we could all contribute in a different way to get the job done the best way possible. The results are far superior because of all the unique contributions.
Today, I want to encourage you to see things in a different light than you have in the past. Notice how those around you are doing things differently than you do, then ask yourself, is it really a bad thing? Maybe there is a reason they are doing it that way. Is there any potential for something beyond me if our two ideas come together? Can there be a third and better option if the two ideas meet? Recognize that God has you connected with the people around you to strengthen you and to make a better version of all those involved. Then begin to thank God for all the diverseness in the world and that life is more interesting with other perspectives in it.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And 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.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
The Daily Dose 