Equal Concern

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

EQUAL CONCERN

1 Cor 12:21-26

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.

NIV

We continue with this body parts explanation by Paul and how they are all interdependent on each other. We have already concluded that each one of us has a part and that we each should be doing our part and not try to be another part or be jealous of other parts or be prideful thinking we are an important part. Here, we see this is taken further to the point that we have to understand that every person in the body of Christ has a part and that each part is as important as the other. We are all equal in the sight of God and we should see ourselves in that same way. In fact, Paul makes the point that the parts that are not presentable or that should not be seen, are treated with more respect and modesty than those parts that are visible. This should give us the idea that those who have public parts in the body, such as the preachers, or pastors, assistance or associate pastors, choirs, musicians, sound people, Sunday school teachers, secretaries, treasurers, boards, etc., are just the visible parts. Those parts or people who do things behind the scenes, that no one sees, ought to be treated with special honor. That is there should be complete mutual respect within the body of Christ for we all are members of the body with Christ being the head. When we contemplate how the head of our body is the center of control. We know our spirit is who we actually are because when the brain dies, we leave it behind, however, while we occupy our body, the brain controls all the parts, and all the parts serve the brain in one way or another. This is the way the church, the body of Christ functions. All the parts, all the members serve Jesus in one way or another, none being more important than the other. Certainly, our physical body can be missing some parts and still function enough to serve the brain. We can be missing a limb or some interior or unseen organ part, but in some sense, we would be handicapped. The body of Christ must never be handicapped, it should never be crippled in any sense. All members should be serving the needs of the head, Jesus. If one of the members is sick or is suffering in some way, we all suffer with them. If one of the members is honored, we all rejoice with them. We should have equal concern for each other.