If a mushroom has a purpose in God’s design, so do you.

Nature shouts the glory of God’s design¹. He created this beautiful cycle where every portion of nature has a purpose and benefit to the whole. Mushrooms serve the very important role of breaking down dead matter and returning vital nutrients to the soil, so that plants can thrive. Thriving plants create food and oxygen for other living things to grow. Those things die and decomposers, like mushrooms, break them down. Wash, rinse, repeat.

God is evident in His creation². When we look at this beautiful cycle of life, we can also see how he designed His believers to interact. We are part of a whole. While the words change (church, bride, body)3, God’s intention is clear. He did not intend for his children to operate as independent islands.

I Corinthians 12:12,14: The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ…Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.

No child of God is insignificant.

The problem is that many believers feel like they are mushrooms. They view themselves as outsiders, growing in the dark, unwanted. In a word, they consider themselves insignificant.

But according to God’s word, none of his believers are insignificant. Every person is carefully designed with a purpose. Every person has an important role in His kingdom.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Each believer is created anew in Jesus. Regardless of how they view themselves or their past, those things change when they become a child of God. One thing that changes is the Holy Spirit gives them gifts⁴. Those supernatural talents combined with natural abilities make that person uniquely qualified to fulfill God’s plan.

Natural ability + Spiritual gifts = Purpose

Another change is they become part of a beautiful whole. They are no longer outsiders. Now, they have a purpose and function within the body. Here’s the amazing part–that body suffers if they are not in it. We, as a body, are intended to help one another.

I Peter 4:10: God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

I Corinthians 12:27: All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

You are not insignificant.

If you’ve read this far, I want you to understand this. You are not insignificant. You are a vital, thriving part of God’s body. If you don’t have a church body, find one! You are meant to be part of a community not hiding the dark. If you’re not sure what your role may be, talk to your pastor. Uncertain of your spiritual gifting, take a survey. Here’s a reliable one from Lifeway publishers. Seek out your purpose in God’s design.

Mentor those who feel insignificant.

If you don’t struggle with this feeling, awesome! Seek out those in your church who may feel like outsiders. Part of being a functioning body is taking care of the other parts of that body. This section is bit long, but it outlines the responsibility of all believers to one another.

I Corinthians 12:23-26: And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

In summary, mushrooms are super cool. They have a unique and important part of God’s creation. You, also, are super cool and have a unique and important part in God’s body.

¹Psalm 19:1,2

²Romans 1:20

³Romans 14:19, Revelation 19:7,8, Ephesians 3:6

⁴I Corinthians 12, I Peter 4