The Most Important Person

Many people struggle with poor self images or, as it is called today, low self-esteem. This is a serious problem and that is why I am glad to see places like Wal-Mart that make a practice of hiring people with various difficulties and enabling them to do real jobs. Having real work to do and receiving real rewards, helps all of us feel better about ourselves.

Wal-Mart, as wonderful as it is in this regard, is not the pioneer in this area. The Apostle Paul in writing to churches repeatedly describes the Church as the "Body of Christ." "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. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - an we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ... But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." {1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20}

The Body of Christ, like the physical body, does not have any useless parts. I know you can live without some of them, but whenever you lose a part, the body does not function as well as it should. Every Christian is important in the life of the local church. As I shared with the children one Sunday no matter what your age, size, or education everyone is a vital part and has a role in the church.

My daughter, Sarah and I were talking about this and we remembered a man in a church we attended. He had limitations intellectually and in some ways was the perennial child. Many would think he is quite unimportant and the church could get along quite well without him. But, as we remembered, we talked about what a vital part he was; from his cheerful greetings, to his joyful helping, to his pride at being a helper in the children's ministries. In our memories of everyone in the church he stands out!

Paul points out that everyone needs to be doing their part for the church to function properly. "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." {Ephesians 4:15-16}

Notice Paul wrote: "as each part does its work." Each and every part of the Body of Christ is important so the whole body can function properly. When asked: "What is the most important part?" One good answer is: "Any part that the whole cannot function without." For example a few weeks ago my son, Jeremiah called home, the car would not start. As we checked the car out I was thinking of the big problems. Then I tapped the clamp on the battery terminal and the car started. That day an inexpensive piece of metal shut the whole car down! At that moment it was the most important part. Once we fixed the clamp the car ran fine.

Every Christian needs to realize how vital a part of their congregation they are. For the church to function and be built up in love each and every one is a "most important part." So do not fall into the low self esteem trap. You are worth so much that Jesus died and rose from the dead for you, and more he has made you not a VIP but a MIP "Most Important Person" in his body the church!

So who is the most important person in your congregation? the answer is everyone of you! The deacons, teachers, youth workers, students, custodial workers, volunteers, little children to the elderly, greeters, ... even the pastor, I hope you get the idea.

This week realize how vital you are in your congregation and do your part well.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker May 2003



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker