Joshua 19 again talks about the dividing up of the land by lot. It describes which places were given to which tribes. We see one more instance of a tribe fighting for themselves. The tribe of Dan fights for their territory in order to take it. Where’s the one body?

The one body of Christ is made up of many different “tribes.” Some were appointed to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. Some were given the gifts of mercy, giving, helping and serving. Some are given a heart to care for the elderly. Some have a heart for children. Some are gifted in music and others at administrative work.

Yet, we’re all one body. We’re all living for the task of bringing God’s kingdom to earth. We’re one body, knit together by what every joint supplies. That’s what it says in Ephesians. Paul said we effectively work together, causing growth in the body of Christ when every part does its share.

Everyone does their own part. That growth isn’t just about making the Church bigger; it’s about maturing the Church, about discipleship. Our gifts are for us to work towards the unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus (Ephesians 4). But we have to let each do his part.

I remember being rebuked by a much older man because I wasn’t going to an outreach event. At the same time, I was going to be at a dance recital, where I was doing my own type of outreach. I was performing to Amazing Grace at a non-Christian event. But that didn’t matter in his mind; his event mattered. His heart was for those inner-city kids. Mine was too. I volunteered there at other times, which is why we were having the conversation. But not everything he was supposed to do was what I was supposed to do.

When the signups go around church, we can feel like we’re supposed to do all those things. They are all important. They are all good works. But they aren’t necessarily yours. You have your good works prepared for you by God, not by a committee (Ephesians 2:10). Your assigned good work right now might be taking care of your family. Doing other people’s good works might prevent you from doing yours.

We only work effectively as the one body when everyone does their own share. Walk in the good works that God has prepared for you, not someone else.