Significance > Self Importance
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 (MSG) —
‘I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together… But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of.’
Probably at some point we’ve all wanted to feel significant within a group of people. Singled out in the crowd or picked out of a line-up.
It can feel as though the bigger the group, the more insignificant you become and the more you must fight to hold onto any significance or you’ll be pushed into the background unnoticed and forgotten.
What I love about the kingdom of God is that it’s upside down, back to front and topsy turvy. The world says: promote yourself, get ahead, make sure your name's known; the kingdom says the opposite. Paul’s message to the Corinthians is that being part of the Church, the family of God, makes us more significant than if we go it alone.
Our adoption as sons and daughters gives us significance. As each of us is adopted as a child of God, we inherit many brothers and sisters bestowed with the same magnificent title: ‘co-heirs with Christ’. We are individually crowned and become one big royal family.
It’s not a title that we have to strive for or earn, but one freely given as we accept Jesus as king of our lives. We no longer need to focus on shining to draw attention to ourselves - we’re already fully known, seen and accepted by our heavenly father, before we’ve done or achieved anything. This means we’re free to direct all our attention and energy to shining brightly for Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-16 says:
'You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven'.
Prayer – Thank you God that you are the one who brings significance to our lives. I pray that you would remind us today of the authority and status we have as children of God.