What does the phrase ‘horses for courses’ mean? In the Oxford dictionary it gives the meaning as ‘different people are suited to different things.’ We are all diverse in the body of Christ but we can all work together, with our God given talents and gifts, to make the world a better place.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (CSB)
And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
Romans 12:3-8 (CSB)
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
We can see from scripture that we are all a part of the body of Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, we are the body. The above scriptures were written by the Apostle Paul. In Ephesians, Paul explains that God has given different gifts to different people – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. In the Bible, apostles and prophets spoke the Word of God as it was revealed to them by God. Evangelists proclaim the Word of God, often travelling around the world preaching the gospel, to save people’s souls from going to hell.
Pastors and teachers have similar roles. It is said that all pastors must be teachers, but not all teachers are pastors. The biblical meaning of the word ‘pastor’ is shepherd.
The human race is diverse, we all come from varied backgrounds, so how can God’s people ever truly come together? It is through having the Holy Spirit residing in us and by loving our neighbours that we can unite. When the body of Christ all works together, progress is made.
Just as people are diverse, so are job roles. Is one job role better than another? No, all jobs are important in the body of Christ. We use our God given talents and gifts along with others and their God given talents and gifts to provide service to others. Jesus came not to be served but to serve others, and we as the body of Christ should do the same.
Jesus said:
Mark 10:45 (CSB)
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Philippians 2:4 (CSB)
Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
The life of a Christian is not to sit quietly at the side and do nothing. It is a life of using your God given talents and gifts to build others up. This could be in your everyday life at work or home, in your social life or community, helping out at your church, social media, writing, music or making videos. Whatever your individual talents and gifts are, use them to build others up.
Onward Christian Soldiers 