Genuinely Caring for One Another
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Think back to the first time you saw the woman who would become your wife. Or your girlfriend. Or just an attractive woman who caught your eye. What did you notice first? Her knees? Her ear lobes? Or her elbows?
Probably not. Because those are not the attributes most of us notice initially. When beauty pageants are held, or magazines name the “most beautiful women,” elbows and knees and ear lobes aren’t the primary criteria being evaluated.
But imagine how we would react if we saw someone that didn’t have knees? Or ear lobes? Or elbows? Those often-overlooked physical assets would instantly stand out because they’re essential parts of the human body.
The same holds true for the spiritual body, what the Bible calls “the body of Christ.” Every person, regardless of who they are or what gifts or abilities they possess, is needed.
In our worship services we give special attention to certain individuals – singers, musicians, pastors giving the morning message. We don’t notice the guitarists, keyboard players and drummers as much, that is unless they play the wrong notes or don’t keep a consistent beat. However, they’re all important for the worship experience.
Imagine if you walked into the sanctuary and there was litter everywhere. And the chairs were jumbled together, some turned over. The air conditioning wasn’t on, so the room was stifling. We don’t think about it, but the folks who keep things cleaned, well-maintained and running properly are just as crucial for a successful worship service as the musicians and teaching pastor.
The apostle Paul was trying to teach this to believers in ancient Corinth, people who apparently were giving special recognition to the “stars” – folks with highly visible and impactful spiritual gifts – while neglecting or disregarding those who work behind the scenes without fanfare:
“But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:18).
This is important for two primary reasons: First, if we don’t find ourselves in a lead role or serving in the spotlight, that doesn’t mean we’re not important to the body of Christ. The person in the parking lot helping to direct traffic before the service is just as significant as the missionary giving a testimony during the service. The people who make sure the restrooms are clean for Sunday morning are just as crucial as the lead singer.
The second is we should be more intentional in recognizing the contributions of people who serve in unseen ways. Have you ever thought much about your thumb – especially the one on your dominant hand? I didn’t, that is until years ago when I sprained my right thumb. Suddenly I was aware of my thumb nearly all the time, especially when trying to turn a doorknob, type on my keyboard, or pick things up. We might not give thumbs as much attention as other parts of our bodies, but they’re more vital for our daily activities than we often realize.
We tend to take for granted those who serve on the welcoming team, but because they’re there every Sunday we don’t have to hunt around for the sermon outlines. When newcomers arrive to visit the church for the first time, I’m sure it’s encouraging for many of them to see a smiling face and hear a friendly, “Good morning! Welcome!”
The bottom line: Whether you feel like an important part of our local “body of Christ” or not, YOU ARE.
As Paul wrote, “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…. 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” (1 Corinthians 12:21-25).
Think of it this way: You’ve spent hours putting together a 1,000-piece puzzle. It’s a beautiful picture and you’re almost done. But one piece is missing. You can’t find it anywhere. The puzzle’s incomplete and will remain so until you can find that last pesky piece. Don’t be a missing puzzle piece!