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.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 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? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:21-31 ESV)
There is no one gift given to all the members of the body of Christ, except the Holy Spirit Himself. He is the one who divides the gifts and unifies the body into one. As is often the case, the gifts we think are more glamorous are not the greatest ones. Our guts can look pretty gory, but we won't get very far without our unseen organs. The greatest gifts are the ones that move us to the background and Christ to the forefront, and which, when exercised, emphasize the unity and victory of our fellowship, not our individual accomplishments. Let us rejoice and suffer together in Christ, as one.
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