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1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-27
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. {13} For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. {14} Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. {15} 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 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 cease to be 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 arranged 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 combined the members of the body and has given 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.
Christ and His church form one body. Christ is the head and we are the parts of the body. Have you ever thought about which part you are?
Are you an eye, looking out at the world and seeing the problems that abound?
Without the eyes we would not know what was happening around us. We couldn’t see those who need help, or those who are looking for the grace that only belief in God can bring. But, if you are an eye, are you looking at the wrong things, seeing problems where there are none, or turning blindly away from things that you can do to change the heart of someone? Whenever you close your eyes to the need that surrounds us, imagine what it would be like to be blind, and not able to see the wonder of God’s grace in the world.
Or are you an ear, listening to the words of God and hearing when He speaks to us, telling us that we are needed in this world? Or, do you only hear the bad things and block out the good that is there? Do you ignore the cries for help that you hear, or do you turn toward the hurting and give of yourself? Remember that there are many in this world who are deaf and cannot hear the words of God. Others can hear, but don’t hear the word of God. Part of our job as members of the body of Christ is to insure that all hear the word.
Are you a hand? The hand is a very useful part of the body. We use our hands to feed ourselves, to reach out and bring things closer so our eyes can examine them, and to work so we can earn a living. How do we use them as a hand on the body of Christ? Do we reach out and give comfort to the poor, the ill, and the unloved? Or does our hand reach out to take from others? The hand is a remarkable instrument. It can comfort, it can give to others, or it can grasp and take, hurting others. What kind of hand are you?
Are you a foot, or a leg or a knee? Our legs can be used to carry us toward someone in need, or they can carry us away. We can sit back and put our feet up, close our ears and eyes and ignore the problems there are in this world. If we are the rear end, then that just may be what we do.
Paul is telling us that we are all part of the body of Christ. We were all baptized into one body. Which part we are doesn’t really matter, because Christ is the head. In the human body every member has its place and its use. None of the parts of the body are to be ignored; all of them must be cared for. Whether you look at the parts of our human body, or the body of the church, we see that some parts are weaker than others. This doesn’t mean that they can be dispensed with or ignored. As we study these verses we need to think about which part we are, and how that part is used to further the goals of the body of Christ.
Are you a little toe? The little toe is just as important to our well being as our hands, or our ears. It seems to be insignificant, doing nothing. After all we can’t pick up anything with our little toe. It doesn’t hear cries for help, or compliments. It isn’t able to see where we are going. But, have you ever hurt your little toe? If it hurts we limp. If we limp, this puts extra strain on the joints in our legs and our back. Pains start up in places you wouldn’t think were connected to the little toe. When that insignificant appendage is hurt, it can affect our perspective on life. We can find ourselves snapping at other people over minor problems that usually we ignore. That little pain can take over our entire lives and all of our attention is focused on our little toe.
I remember going on long marches in the Army. We would leave early in the morning, march all day, bivouac that night, and march back the next day. Twenty-five miles out and twenty-five miles back, averaging four miles an hour. If any part of your feet hurt, it was torture. A small blister on the little toe was agony. But, if your feet had been toughened, then the march was not that hard. We cared for that little toe, and all the other parts of our feet. This little toe, which seems to be so weak, so insignificant, was indispensable.
Each part of the body of Christ is also indispensable, no matter how insignificant it seems. Each part of the body of Christ deserves the same concern as any other part. If we ignore any part, it can become injured or ill, and when any part is injured or ill, the entire body suffers.
Some parts are well known, popular, willing to do anything for the body of Christ, the church. Other parts are quieter, more laid back. Some parts are flamboyant, other parts are shy. But all the parts need to work together to accomplish the mission given us by Christ to go out and spread His word across the world.
Which part of the body of Christ are you? Which part is your neighbor? Are you a hand, or a brain, or an eye? Is your neighbor a little toe, or a piece of tendon? It doesn’t matter, because we are all parts of the body. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” If any one of our brothers or sisters is suffering, all of us are suffering. If any part of the body of Christ receives recognition for deeds well done, then all of us rejoice.
Not all of us can, or want to, stand up in front and speak. Not all of us are suited for mission work. Not everyone can handle a Sunday school class. Some of us don’t like to clean and vacuum. But that doesn’t make any part less significant than any other. Each of us is a part of the body of Christ, and each part is crucial to the job we have before us. Sometimes we can’t see why this part or that part is important, but it’s not important that we see it. Christ knows all of us and knows what part we play in His plan for the church.
Each member of the church of Christ has different powers and different places to fill in the church as a whole. We all need to do the part that is given us, and not complain or quarrel. Each of us is necessary and useful. All Christians are dependent on one another, each is to expect and receive help from the rest. Let us then have more of the spirit of union in our religion. Instead of coveting the highest stations, or the most splendid gifts, let us leave the appointment of his instruments to God, and those in whom he works by his providence. Remember, he who is first will be last, and he who is last shall be first, but we are all part of the body of Christ.
