3 For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:3-8).
When we’re children, we are told we can, “Be anything we want to be.” However, as we get older, it seems as though the people around us make our imaginations, aspirations, dreams, and choices a whole lot smaller. We are pushed to pursue one major over another, depending on the opinions of the one giving us advice.
We are told one career or business is better than the other when weighing its “importance” in society and the amount printed on the paycheck. Some question one’s future plans after graduation and ridicule them saying something like, “You’re not going to make any money doing that”, or, “You won’t be able to find a job with that degree.”
As we grow older, we realize more and more that we actually can’t be anything we want to be. Therefore, we pursue what interests us and what we excel at. Why then, are we scoffed at? Why are we ridiculed for our majors that we’re passionate about pursuing or for the picturing the job we always dream about? Why is one major labeled, “important”, and, “necessary” while another is shunned because it’s, “easy”, and, “insignificant.” Each person has their own unique gifts, talents, and abilities.
The Bible clearly explains in Romans chapter twelve that even though each member of our bodies has its own function, they all still belong to the same body. Similarly, each person with their own unique function still belongs to the same body of Christ, the church (Romans 12). This can be used on an even broader scale when applied to Christ’s people going out into the world, into the workforce. Each person has their own unique gifts, talents, and abilities. Not everyone can be a surgeon.
Even if I wanted to be a surgeon, I wouldn’t succeed because medical terminology, science, and math are neither my interests nor my strengths. Some of my interests, and perhaps talents, are helping and encouraging. These gifts of mine have led me to pursue a career in Counseling or Therapy. In the same way, I have friends whose gifts and passions include teaching, science, math, athletics, technology, and they all pursue the major and career that best suits their interests and desires.
Each member of us has a use to aid our body, each believer has a function for the church, and each person has a place and a purpose in this world. Rather than discouraging our college students, telling them that they can’t be anything they want to be, and cutting them down for choosing a major and career path that interests them and that they’re excited about, why don’t we try encouraging them, reminding them that whatever they choose to be is needed, beneficial, and important in this world.
Because when each member of your body is working together with their many different functions, life seems to go much more smoothly for us, doesn’t it? We feel better when our whole body is working together so that we can perform at our very best. Not surprisingly, the same thing happens when the body of believers and the people of this world work together, as a team, with the same goals- to be a light, to create change, and to be better for our own generation and for the ones to come. Don’t let anyone tell you that your major or career is unimportant.
