Crutches

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

If your kidneys are acting up, the rest of your body suffers. If your eye stops working, your toe gets infected, or your pinky finger is smashed in the door, the rest of your body knows about it. In fact, all attention goes to the part that is not doing its job. The rest of your parts are often called into service for a job they were not designed to fill. If you’ve spent any time on crutches, you remember the way the rest of your body suffers because of the weak leg. Shoulders ache, hands cramp, and the strong leg does double-duty to make up for the leg that is not doing its job.

The church is like that too. God equipped each of His children with unique talents, passions, and gifts that are designed to work together for the good of the whole Body. He expects us to discover, develop, and devote those gifts to Him and His church. When one person refuses to utilize the gifts God has entrusted to him or her, the whole Body suffers. Others without that gifting or passion must step in to bear more of the load. A church gets out of balance when the bulk of the work is done by a few. The few become overburdened and the others grow weak and ineffective, neglecting the gifts God entrusted to them. A church without all members doing their part is a church on crutches. 

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