I love all the thoughts we’ve shared this week about “having it all,” but before we move on to all the things we really don’t HAVE to have, I thought it important to look at God’s words on the subject.

There are many different ways to approach what the Bible has to say about “having it all,” but one particular passage sticks out in my mind at this time.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 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; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 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 12:4-8

Our problem with trying to “have it all” usually stems from comparison to others. We see what someone else has or does and it looks good so we think it would be good for our own life.

But God makes it very clear here in Romans 12 that we each have different gifts and that is by His design. God did not create us to be a bunch of clones of one another. He created each of us with unique gifts, talents, and interests that function best when they function together.

Think about the analogy set forth in these verses. The eyes can’t taste and the nose can’t see and the tongue can’t hear. Each part of the body does it’s own job. They don’t try to be any other part of the body or perform more functions than they were designed to do. I’m not a doctor, but I’m sure there would be some major problems within the body if this were to happen!

God does not want us doing everything, but rather doing what He gave us to do and doing it well. When we take on other tasks in the name of “having it all,” we often lose our focus on His plan for our lives. We are prone to drop the ball in our area of gifting when we pile too many other things on our plate. The body of Christ misses our particular contributions as we try to do more or have more than was ever intended for us.

Have you thought lately about the gifts God has given you and how you are using them? Are those gifts being minimized as your schedule fills up?

The rest of the month, we’ll be taking an honest look at all the things we don’t really HAVE to have or do, and we’ll be doing this in order to live more fully our role in the body of Christ. Join me tomorrow as we start chipping away at the extra things crowding our hearts, minds, and to-do lists!