John Wesley said that there is no such thing as solitary Christianity. To be a Christian means to be a part of the body of Christ.
- There is one body and many members.
- 12:14, 18, 20, 25-26.
- note the empathy in verses 25-26; see 2 Cor.11:28.
- God’s gifting in 12:11, 18.
- There is no place for envy.
- 12:15-20. Imagine if your whole body was just a giant hand or a giant ear or a giant tongue. That would not be a body but a monstrosity. There are no useless parts of the body.
- There is no place for any sense of superiority.
- 12:21-26; the less attractive or less honourable parts of our bodies are often the most necessary. You have one liver and when it goes, you are gone.
- God does surprising things. He can use whomever He wishes however He wishes. Just a quick word about what to do if certain gifts are missing in a local church. It is okay to struggle with a genuine Christian who may lack some gifts – a treasurer who can’t count or a precentor who can’t sing. You can move them on in better days. But do not put in elders or deacons who do not fulfil the biblical requirements. Pray and wait for God’s good time.
There is no place for envy or pride, but only for co-operation and empathy, one with the other.