1 Corinthians 12:12-26
12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one part, but many.
15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many parts, but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again, the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;
23 and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor, and our less presentable parts become much more presentable,
24 whereas our more presentable parts have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.
26 And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.
The Unity in Diversity (1)
The analogy of human body
Next, Paul explains the diversity and unity of spiritual gifts by comparing the body of Christ (that is, the church of Christ) to the human body. (1) The body has many parts, yet all of those parts together make up one body. (2) In the same way, the church, which is the body of Christ, has many members, yet it is one body. (3) Jews and Greeks, though different in ethnicity and religious background, were brought to faith by the same Spirit. Likewise, slaves and free people, despite their different social status, became Christians through that same Spirit. Each one of us is a member of the body of Christ. God Himself has made each of us an indispensable part of His church.
Applications of the analogy
If the church is like the human body, how should we apply that truth to our Christian lives? (1) There is not a single unnecessary member in the church. We all need one another. (2) Those members that seem to be weaker are actually indispensable. They are the very ones that should be treated with greater honor. The reason God has given these seemingly weaker members is so that there would be no division in the body, but that all its members would have the same care for one another. (3) In conclusion, Paul gives us the truth found in verse 26: “And if one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.” Who are the “members that seem to be weaker”? They may include those who are physically weak, the poor, those who faithfully continue praying in obscurity, and those who serve behind the scenes without attracting attention. The standards of God’s kingdom are different from those of this world. Have you been viewing the church and fellow believers according to the perspective of Scripture? Have you made the sufferings of your brothers and sisters your own, and their joys your own as well?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, today I have engraved the words diversity and unity upon my heart. Please help me to see the church from Your perspective. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.