Ears that hear and eyes that see, the Lord has made them both. ~Proverbs 20:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one spirit into one body—and we were all given the one spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be a part of the body. 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 cease to be part of the body. 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? But in fact, God has arranged 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 eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, while are presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts 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. Now, you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ~1 Corinthians 12:12-27
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ~Romans 12:3-45
God is so creative and imaginative that he couldn’t just pour all that creativity into one cell, or one organ, or one person to experience it all. He broke His creativity down into parts so that He could have each part specialize and begin to explore the depths of who He is and what He is capable of.
We like multi-function tools. In the old days, a rock was a laundry machine, a hammer, or a weapon, later on, a paper weight or a door stop! Who hasn’t used their wrench as a hammer sometimes? But God created parts, that really can’t do much on their own, but together, they form a multifunction body. And now Paul uses the analogy of the body to show how the Community of Christ should work together and support one another.
God made the eye to specialize in visual pleasures, but it does not have the ability to hear. The ear enjoys sound, but it cannot taste or smell, or hug. God made all these different parts with different functions. Some eyes don’t see very well, and some ears don’t hear very well, just as some people are not super stars or experts in their God given abilities, but they are expected to be used just the same.
We do our creator a huge disservice if we say, well, I don’t do it very well, so I guess I won’t offer my ability at all. No! Don’t do that! Paul says: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one doesn’t have. (2 Cor. 8:12) Peter says: “Serve in the strength you have.” (1 Peter 4:11) You have been created in just the right way for you to serve God and to serve your local body of Christ, the congregation of which you are a part.
And then, consider, you are not just a member of a congregation. You are a part of a body. You are not a part of just any body, but a part of the worldwide body of Christ. Everyone you see worshiping with you is a part of that same body. You are like a single cell in an organ of a much larger body! And you can’t really survive without that association. Are you thankful for all of your neighbor members? Each person worshiping with you has been placed in your life by your loving head, Christ Jesus, to help you become more like Him, and a more useful part of His body. They are helping you become more like Christ, just as you are helping them to do the same. Are you thankful?
This Sunday, as you stand singing praises, or sit with your head bowed, ready to pray, take a moment to look around at your fellow cells and give thanks for each one. Take extra time for the ones that you find more challenging to accept. They just may be the ones you need most in the molding process. Recognize that you may be the most challenging person for others, but you are useful to them as well.
Pray that you will work well together with your other cells so that we will be effective in our mission and not distracted by personal conflicts. Pray that you will not be an obstacle to others, but that you will be a blessing to aid in their growth, as they should desire to aid you in yours.
Prayer: Father, I want to be a multi-function tool that doesn’t need any help, especially not from others who are difficult to work with. But I acknowledge, that is not your plan. Help me Lord to see the Body Your way, learn to do my part in harmony with others, and submit my ego to the greater good, for the sake of the cause of Christ and for Your Glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Servant Song
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