It was an icebreaker of sorts at a Bible study, a fun way of sharing how God had gifted each one of us to serve. Our leader wanted to help us become better acquainted, and at first, I was skeptical of her method. I had seen things like this fall short of their intended purpose.
“Think about everything you’ll want or need for a table setting,” she began, and immediately I thought of our family’s annual Valentine Tea Party and the fun my mother-in-love and I had in preparing for our guests. Sarah, ever the consummate hostess, would have her dining room table set days in advance, stark contrast to me, ever an up-to-the-last-minute girl, adding finishing touches as guests knocked on the door. I must’ve driven her crazy.
Joan reeled me back to the present as she continued her explanation. “With this picture in mind, tell us what serving piece best describes you and your passions, and why you would choose that particular piece.” To make sure we understood, she added, “I’ll go first.”
“I would be the tablecloth or placemat,” she revealed, “because God has given me the foundational gifts of leadership and teaching to encourage others to grow in their relationship with Christ and in His Word.” Her enthusiasm was infectious, filling the room. I quickly realized my skepticism about whether others would play along was unfounded. Answers were ping-ponging from every direction.
It was fascinating to learn about each woman’s heart and passions as she shared her answer. And it was equally interesting to have such a creative variety of answers — few table items were duplicated, and if they were, for very different reasons. “I’m a salt shaker!” “I’m a charger!” “I’m the centerpiece!” My friend, Hannah, was a fork; in the same way it connects food to a person eating, she connects need to people who can help meet the need. Courtney said she was a napkin because “I’m a mess sometimes, and I’ll get in the mess with you and walk beside you.” Leigh described herself as a serving platter because she loves to serve. Out of the room of women, I know these three best, and I was amazed by how perfectly something from an ordinary table described them. I have seen them walking in their calling and can testify to Leigh as a generous servant, Courtney walking alongside you, and Hannah connecting people to need or people to people.
Joan’s exercise focused on how God designed each of us with unique personalities and giftings for the purpose of serving others, and it got me thinking about an important spiritual truth: as members of the body of Christ, each one of us adds something valuable, vital, and unique. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 says it this way:
For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body — so also is Christ . . . Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.
If we aren’t living out our calling, something is missing — in our lives, in our families, in our communities, in our world. God has carefully and purposefully put the body together, and every part needs to be in good working order for the body to be at its healthiest. Good health is a result of every part of the body functioning as it was intended.
Sweet friend, if you have any doubts, listen: you have a kingdom purpose as a vital, valuable, unique part of the body of Christ. For the body to be at its healthiest, we need you to live out your calling. Your past failures or sins don’t disqualify you for service in God’s kingdom, neither does your age or stage of life. Over the past several months, I’ve read comments on a few (in)courage posts that broke my heart — women who feel like they don’t have anything to offer, women who’ve been hurt by others or even the church, women who feel like they’ve “aged out” of need or value or are too young.
Those are lies, and you need to stop believing them now. There’s a beautiful wedding feast in our future, and between now and then, you have something beautiful to add to make sure the table is perfectly set.
I’d love to hear what table setting item you’d be. Apparently feeling sassy, I said I was a glass of champagne. Why? Symbolic of my joie de vivre spirit, I like to encourage others to see life as something to celebrate, cheering them on in their calling, and as a reminder of the joy we have in Christ.
So, what would you be and why?
You have a kingdom purpose as a vital, valuable, unique part of the body of Christ. - @robindance: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
I am a teapot – offering warmth and comfort in times of need.
I love that, Leslie!
Based on our interactions, I think that’s the perfect way to describe yourself. Thank you for kicking things off in comments, Leslie! xo
Robin, I think this exercise/illustration is going to stick with me for a long time. The table needs every piece not only for function but for beauty. And so with the body of Christ, we need every person, not only to accomplish kingdom work, but to fully reflect the beauty of the God who made us and created us to work together! Thanks so much for this beautiful truth today, friend!
I think I’d be a sugar spoon… because I love heaping on the sweetness of encouragement and affirmation to other women.
Becky, I knew ever since my friend Joan led this exercise I would HAVE to write about it for incourage! It was so FUN and engaged the entire room :). There were maybe 30 of us (?) and with each answer, you had an expanded view of the needs and abilities in the Body. I love YOUR thoughts, here, too. Form (beauty) AND function are both important.
And YES–a sugar spoon! Perfect. You ARE a sweet encouragement ALWAYS. xo
What a thought-provoking exercise. I think I would be the butter dish. I kind of protect myself, a little guarded around new people I meet. I’m friendly, compassionate and caring, but I don’t let a lot of people know the real me. When I remove the fear, the cover, of what people will think, there is a soft soul that can melt in the company of warm friends.
Carol, what a beautiful analogy. I’ll never look at a butter dish the same way. “…soft soul that can melt in the company of warm friends” — what a lovely phrase. 🙂
First thing that comes to mind is a casserole dish: spacious with maybe a chip somewhere, but serviceable!
Michele, Your answer reminded me of Chip the teacup in Beauty and the Beast. Made me smile :).
I would be a serving platter because I love to bake and share my goodies with others. For sentimental reasons I would use the platter that was my mom’s and she gave it to me because it has our state flower on it and the 2 matching mugs for coffee.
Rita,
I love your sentimental attachments to the piece you would “be.” What a lovely image it brings to mind with the matching coffee mugs :).
It’s a hard one, to think of what I’d be. Coffee comes to mind, I will listen and after the main story Your story is digested just like after meal coffee I will try to support you in any way I can. It doesn’t sound as eloquent as the other responses but I’m told I’m a good networker?!
🙂 It sounds perfect, Jas. You be YOU!! 🙂
I’d be a Crockpot, it takes me a while to warm-up and accomplish something, but when I do others can be comfortable around me because I’m not fancy or stuffy.
DJ…I likey :). I have yet to hear anyone suggest a slow cooker, and your explanation is spot on. Love your imagination!
I am a water pitcher. I serve those who are thirsty. Thirsty for a positive word. Thirsty for God. The words we speak give new life to the hopeless. The water is refreshing in a society that is a desert. Water…..refreshing, cleansing, life changing.
Anne,
Oh, my, this is beautiful. Yes! We need water pitchers!!
I would be a cozy padded chair at the table. I’m best at making people feel at home and comfortable. And I support the people in my life…
That is such a marvelous addition, Angela! J’adore!! We need cozy padded chairs! 🙂
I liked you post, Robin. I think a tureen of soup suits me best. I can be at the center of things. I have a big capacity to hold and serve a lot. I can be fancy, hearty, or plain, or spicy. The variety of my contents can nurture a variety of needs. I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses.
I so agree that we are all needed and have a way we can serve and reflect the goodness of Jesus.
Jan,
Brilliant! You found a way to be diverse…not just one way but many. Bravo, and a wonderful thought.
I’d be the gravy boat; warm, comforting, sometimes overlooked but sometimes that little bit extra you didn’t know you were missing.
Mary,
What an imaginative idea, Mary! Yes–we always need a gravy boat :).
What immediately came to mind was a mug, ready to pour out whatever I have sweet or strong, warm and comforting to let someone know that they are not alone in what they feel/think/are experiencing. Thinking about how we pour our what we have and then can be re-filled over and over and continue to pour out kindness, compassion, understanding to others in need and how God continues to re-fill us as we fill others.