Sometimes, when we look at the church or God’s work in the world, we can be tempted to think that progress is slow or uneven. The Bible reminds us that every part of the body—and every person—has a role to play in order to see advancement take place. If you are familiar with the New Testament, you are probably well aware of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 on the body of Christ:

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ…For the body does not consist of one member but of many…as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Paul emphasizes the need for each part of the body to play its role. What struck me the other day is that this same principle appears in 1 Chronicles 12, though in a different context. The Chronicler records the strong support David received as he became king:

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700.
28 Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house.
29 Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

When you read through this list, you see a remarkable variety of gifts and abilities brought together in service of the king (reminding us that each should be embraced without envy). There were mighty men of valor (25), royal men (27), young men (28), slower men who followed later (29), famous men (30), hand-picked men (31), wise men who understood what needed to be done (32), seasoned and well-equipped men (33, 36), and well-armed men (34–35).

The Kingdom of God is similarly made up of many different kinds of people, and each one is needed in the service of the King. Our King is not an earthly ruler but the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Each of us has been entrusted with something to contribute, trusting in God’s promise to complete the good work in us. Even when we feel isolated or underappreciated, we can take courage knowing God equips each of His people for their role.

Whether you are a mighty man of valor or a quietly serving mother, what matters is not your title or strength, but whether you are faithfully using what the King has placed in your hands. Without the various men who came to King David, the kingdom could not have advanced. Perhaps the slow progress we sometimes see in God’s kingdom is not because He is inactive—but because some of us are not actively using what He has entrusted to us. Imagine what could happen if each of us stepped fully into the role the King has given us—the Kingdom would advance in ways beyond what we can currently see, reminding us that only what’s done for Christ will last.