WHAT A BODY!!

 MAY 24, 2022

1 Corinthians 12:12-31



12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.




I grew up in the Church, and somehow along the way I came to believe that there was a hierarchy of importance in the Worshipping Community. Now, that is not the biblical teaching, but it is a view that many people have. I have heard colleagues say, for example, that serving as a Deacon is the entry level position to “real” (their word not mine) church leadership.

If we’re not careful, we will believe the falsehood, as I did, that some positions in the church are more important to Jesus’ mission than others. Or we will find ourselves thinking our role is more important than that of another volunteer in another area.

We saw in Monday’s devotional, that Jesus desired unity in His Community. Think of it this way, we are one group of people pursuing a shared mission with individual contributions. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 magnificently explains how this works: “... God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

The beauty of this teaching is that it acknowledges that we are passionate about different things and gifted in different ways for a reason. The verses above say that this is just as God wanted it to be. When we live out our passions and share our gifts with each other and our neighbors, we are fulfilling God’s purpose and plan. As Peter was to include in his prayer in 1 Peter 4, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

I find, our human nature wants to assign people value and importance based on their role. Yet what I see and read in the Bible is that God wants each of us working together to benefit the whole Community. Not only does Jesus’ model make the church more important and useful in our world, but it also brings us more joy. Would you agree with me that when we are serving in areas we are passionate about and using our gifts, that we have an energy for our roles that inspires others as well as ourselves? Why? Because we are in step with God’s purposes. I believe with all my heart and mind that God blesses our work as we put down roots into a calling, He designed us for.

Let’s remind ourselves of Paul’s words above that Jesus’ community “should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Yes, it may be that the temptation to compare ourselves with others will always be there. The way to wrestle with such temptations may be for us to fight for unity and to give thanks for the part each person plays, knowing and believing that each person in the Community of Jesus matters to God and has a vital role in His vision for his Church, and its witness to the world. See above 1 Corinthians 12:24-26

“O How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”, indeed!

SOME TAKE AWAYS

 
Maybe your next step is getting involved in the Church service. As you think about where to serve, consider: What are you passionate about? What are you good at?

 
When was the last time you celebrated the work others are doing in your church? Why not take a moment today to tell someone how much you appreciate their passion and service?

 
As you think about your attitude toward others, are you serving with Jesus’ heart? Is there anyone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness?