We (mostly Jim—I am doing very little) are busy preparing the summer’s operation of the first Bible camp in the NWT–one week for teens and two weeks for children. Or rather God is planning it! It is amazing how things are fitting together. People are coming with all sorts of skills. Necessary money arrives. It makes me realize again the value of each part of the body of Christ.
The working together of the body of Christ is like a pot luck supper. For a pot luck meal, each person brings something making it not too much work for one person and a variety of good food for everyone. In the work of Christ, if each member of the body of Christ does his share, it’s not too much work for anyone and lots of blessing for everyone. It brings joy to the Lord: “How good and pleasant it is when BROTHERS LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For THERE THE LORD BESTOWS HIS BLESSING, EVEN LIFE FOREVERMORE.” Psalm 133 It is interesting that “even life forevermore” is added. I would understand that to mean that salvation to many comes from unity–it means that the saints are walking in God’s will and through their love, acceptance and forgiveness are showing Jesus to the world.
Each of us is given special gifts by God. We are each to use our talents and abilities for God’s glory. Over and over the work that was done in building God’s kingdom both physically and spiritually is shown to be done by those especially gifted by God: “The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the WORK ON THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and every WILLING MAN SKILLED IN ANY CRAFT will help you in all the work…” 1 Chronicles 28:21
Those who are given gifts as spiritual leaders are given these gifts for the sake of other believers: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to PREPARE GOD’S PEOPLE FOR WORKS OF SERVICE, SO THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST MAY BE BUILT UP UNTIL WE ALL REACH UNITY IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD AND BECAUSE MATURE, ATTAINING TO THE WHOLE MEASURE OF THE FULLNMESS OF CHRIST.” Ephesians 4:11-13
“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the SAME GOD WORKS ALL OF THEM IN ALL MEN.
Now to each one the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS GOVEN FOR THE COMMON GOOD. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ALL THESE ARE THE WORK OF ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT, AND HE GIVES THEM TO EACH ONE, JUST AS HE DETERMINES.
The 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. For 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.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If 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. And 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. If 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? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
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. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 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, so that THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION IN THE BODY, BUT THAT ITS PARTS SHOULD HAVE EQUAL CONCERN FOR EACH OTHER. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And 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. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
AND NOW I WILL SHOW YOU THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY.” 1 Corinthians 12:2-31
In the middle of his discourse on spiritual gifts, Paul stresses the importance of love, which all who have made Jesus their Lord should demonstrate: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.” 1 Corinthians 13
Following in another passage that defines love: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9-21
Most of us are given the gift of being servants in some physical capacity because of what needs to be done and because love needs to be shown: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
“…THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS FAITH EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE,” Galatians 5:6
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS, ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN US. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. IF IT IS SERVING, LET HIM SERVE; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:3-8
If Christians do not use their gifts, others cannot do what God has called them to do: “I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the LEVITES AND SINGERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE HAD GONE BACK TO THEIR OWN FIELDS. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected? Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.” Nehemiah 13:10-11 Those whose special gift and responsibility was to build others up spiritually were not able to do that because “Strictly speaking, the Levites had no holdings (Nu 18:20, 23-24 Dt 14:29; 18:1) but some may have had private incomes (Dt 18:8). Therefore, the Levites were dependant on the faithful support of the people…” NIV Study Bible
Examples from today might be: if a person does not do his job in cleaning the church, the pastor has to do it and can spend less time in preparing a quality sermon. Another example: if a member does not show love to his neighbor, the neighbor will not want to go to church and hear the gospel, or if the neighbor is a Christian he may not want to attend church and be built up in his faith.
Each of us is equality loved by God, and each of us equality important to God. We will be judged on how faithfully we fulfill what God has given the ability and called us to do. How much easier and more enjoyable to do our part if we work together in unity!