Who Is More Important?

In a healthy, balanced family we find that each member of the family has a specific gifting and their own personality...no two children are alike and mom and dad are generally quite opposite from the other as well.  "Variety is the spice of life," they say!  Each member of the family--from the parents on down--are assigned tasks to do, participate in family functions, and remain loyal and faithful to the family.  In like manner, so does the church family.  Each member is important, has a specific function or role to fill, and contributes to the growth and stability of the church family.

Romans 12:3-8 speaks about each member having a certain gift.  We can function--in greater or lesser degrees--in all 7 of these gifts, if we put forth an effort to do so, but we have a "primary" one that always stands out.  These gifts are called "Motivational or Foundational Gifts."  I believe this passage of scripture should be taught early on to the congregation.  If we understood where each one is "coming from" (what gift they operate from), there'd be fewer disputes and misunderstandings. 

My main motivational gift is that of an EXHORTER; I love to exhort and encourage!  I used to think I was primarily an ADMINISTRATOR, as I functioned highly in that area.  But I learned some of those skills from my parents.  Of course, that gift helps if you mix it with my primary one.  People like to be encouraged--lifted up...not be put down--when you have to oversee (boss) them.

What I'm trying to say is that each and every gift...each and every member is important in the Family of God.  Don't go around thinking you are more important or have a superior gift than someone else....don't go flaunting it around!  We're not to "compare or compete" (or "complain")about one another!  Just remember this:

..."not to think of yourself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith, for we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are ONE BODY in Christ, and individually members of one another."  [Romans 12:3-5]