12The 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.
13For 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.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If
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. 16And
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. 17If
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? 18But
in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as
he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would
the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the
head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the
contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are
indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable
we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are
treated with special modesty, 24while 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, 25so
that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should
have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every
part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part
of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also
those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts
of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in
tongues ? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater
gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
=====================================================
Paul liked to use the human body as
an illustration of the relationship believers have with one another. As
members of the body of Christ, God lives in every believer; his presence
links believers together. Just as each cell in your body is attuned to
every other cell and receives direction from one brain, so also
in Christ's body (the church) the Spirit establishes a connection between
each cell and the Head, and among all the cells of his body. God has
called you as a Christian to join a body that binds you together with
other diverse cells.
Paul points out three things we
must realize about the parts of the body of Christ. First, we need each
other. Disputes in the church at Corinth had discouraged some members
whose gifts weren't as publicly visible. They wondered whether they had
any right to belong to a church with such impressive spiritual gifts. And
apparently those whose gifts were more publicly visible felt superior to
those with less spectacular gifts. But Paul set the record straight by
making it clear that every part of the body needs every other part,
regardless of the parts' respective functions. God doesn't value one type
of gift more highly than another.
The implication is profound.
No matter what church or denomination you're involved in, your bond in the
Spirit links you together with every other Christian in the world.
Without each committed Christian, Christ's body would be incomplete.
Second, we must honor each
other. This step follows naturally from the previous one. Regardless of
a man or woman's spiritual gifts, race, denominational affiliation,
economic position, or any other variable, we need to honor our Christian
brothers and sisters for who they are and what they contribute to the
world wide body of Christ.
Third, we must care for each
other. For instance, the presence of pain in one member of the body means
the whole body is involved. Just think of the last time you smashed your
finger with a hammer. Your mouth opened. Your lungs and vocal cords
responded with a yell. Your arm shook up and down and brought the damaged
finger to your mouth. Your legs and feet helped you to jump around. Then
your brain assessed the damage and decided on an appropriate treatment.
Every part of your body acted to help you cope with the pain. Similarly,
we can't disassociate ourselves from the trials--or the triumphs--of other
devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Paul's message provides a
challenge to all of us to live in unity with other believers. Take this
message as an encouragement to promote the health of the church, Christ's
body, whenever and wherever you can.
