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. (Romans 12:4–5 ESV)

I love verses like this! We are all personally made, but made for each other. God did not create us to be alone. In fact, in the beginning, He said it is not good for man to be alone. This has less to do with marriage and more to do with relationships in general. We were created to need one another. One of the best illustrations comes from D.A. Horton. He says just imagine when you hit your thumb with a hammer. Immediately everything works together: the thumb feels pain; the signal travels through nerves letting the brain know; the mouth voices a reaction. You may start jumping up and down, while your other hand rushes over to comfort the wounded thumb. Every part of the body works together.

This is a picture of how the church body is to work together. We cannot all be the one who comforts or the one who protects. We cannot all lead or be the brains of the body. In order for the body to function as one, we need each person’s unique and individual gifts and talents. How amazing is that! Each one of us is a different part of the body.

As an individualistic culture, we tend to forget we need each other. We are told we can do anything if we put our minds to it. However, we look at ourselves instead of the Body of Christ. We glorify ourselves individually, instead of God. This is a danger our culture tends to teach us. Paul was clear that, yes, we are many members but we are one body. In order to be one body, we must use the gifts and talents God gave us, working together to glorify God, not ourselves.

Why do I love these verses? It reminds us that we are not alone. We have been placed among the people around us to help us grow and mature in Christ. We each move the body forward. How great is it to know you are not alone?

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8 ESV)