Takers or Givers? 

God on Monday
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But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Reflection

We can often be takers, rather than givers, in our relationships with other people, especially in our work. But after describing Christ as the head, the Apostle Paul makes it clear in these verses that in the rest of the body (the church), each individual part must work together. He likens each one of us to a body part that helps equip the whole to function.

We need to ask ourselves, therefore, in what way are we helping to equip the body of Christ? And how are we doing this in the world beyond the church, which is also under Christ’s headship?

Just as our organs need to unite to make our human bodies function properly, we need to seek and preserve unity with those with whom we work. They and we are all called to use our individual gifts to ensure our communities are greater than the sum of their parts. The Holy Spirit is always at work to increase human connectedness and mutual support. How are we helping to facilitate this?

Our work life is often so burdened with pressure that we jeopardize our spiritual responsibility to equip others. We may regard our work chiefly as a means to pay our bills, or to pursue an ambition. But we can shine the light of God within our work by making a deliberate choice to function not as a sole actor but as a body part.

We can do so by exercising virtues that build human flourishing, like integrity, excellence and commitment. We can also do so by what we choose to speak about. In those brief chats with our colleagues about our fun-filled weekend, will we mention our Christian faith, perhaps by sharing what we learned in church on Sunday? All this can help transform us from perpetual takers in our relationships to equipped and equipping givers. 

Response

Take time to write down ways in which you can be more active and intentional this week in exercising your part in Christ’s body on earth. Are you growing in your gifts enough for others to see Jesus through you? 

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for making each one of us crucial to the proper functioning of your body on earth. Help us to be a well-exercised body part for the sake of serving the whole. Increase our confidence in the unique role to which you have called and gifted us. Amen.

This Week's Author

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God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the next Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

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