God’s Workmanship, Not Projects

Measured by the cross

It’s easy to think of people as projects, resources, or functions. Corporately we’re labeled as human resources. But scripture calls me to something far deeper. Paul reminds me in Ephesians 4:11–13 that Christ “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” People are not assignments to be managed, but gifts given by God to be equipped and released so that “we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.”

This vision continues in Romans 12:4–6, where Paul writes, “as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ.” Each individual carries grace-shaped gifts, and the call is to engage them rightly. Leadership in God’s economy is not about squeezing performance out of people but about aligning gifts with purpose, the same way EOS reminds me of the importance of the right people in the right seats.

Too often I need to be reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” Each gift is given “for the common good.” What a powerful picture for business and ministry alike. Organizations and people flourish when I stop treating people as tools and instead honor them as vessels of God’s Spirit, designed to serve others.

Continuing to lean into Paul, I’m grounded more and more into this posture. In Philippians 2:3–4 he says, “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” People are not projects to advance my ambition. They are brothers and sisters in Christ whose worth is measured by the cross, and my leadership is measured by how I serve them.

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Application

• Am I equipping people as Christ equips the saints, or am I assigning tasks as if they were projects?

• Do I see the variety of gifts in my team as God’s design for the common good, or do I resist the diversity he has built in?

• What steps can I take this week to practice humility and count others more significant than myself?

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Journaling Questions

1. Where have I been tempted to treat people as means to an end instead of God’s workmanship?

2. How is God calling me to better equip, affirm, or release others into their gifts?

3. Who in my circle could flourish if I shifted from using them to serving them?