Care For One Another – PART 2

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”

Biblical Building Block #9 Care For One Another (I Corinthians 12:25) – PART 2

I Corinthians 12:25, “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

I. THE CARE OF THE BODY
I Corinthians 12:25, “That there should be no schism in the body…” So completely has God joined the whole body together that not the smallest visible part can be removed from the body without not only injuring its proportions, but producing deformity. Hence the members have the same care one for another. The eyes and ears watch for the general safety of the whole, and they are placed in the head, like watchmen in a tower, that they may perceive the first approach of a foe and give warning. The hands immediately on an attack exert themselves to defend the head and the body. The legs are swift to carry off the body from dangers against which resistance would be vain. The Corinthian Christians should do the same and care equally for everyone (I Corinthians 12:25). God has unified the members together to create a natural care for one another. The very same care should be shown to one member as is shown to another member. Every member is needed. Therefore, we ought to be concerned if any one member is suffering. We are responsible and accountable for one another because we all share in the same body. When a member of the human body suffers, the whole body suffers. The unity of the body means that when one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers and every part hurts, and when one part of the body is honored, the whole body is honored, and every part rejoices. If a brother suffers any kind of sorrow or loss, those who are really Christians will share in the hurt; whatever honor, success, or joy may come to a brother in Christ, the same should be an occasion of rejoicing on the part of all his Christian brothers. The church is one body. Therefore, it is to suffer and rejoice together. Paul clearly had the life of the local congregation in mind. He wanted every Christian in Corinth to value every other Christian, and to care for them just like the hand comes to bandage the injured foot, or the foot hurries to take the injured head to hospital. That remains enormously important in every Christian fellowship, congregation, and church the world over.

I Corinthians 12:26, “And whether one member suffer…” If the eye, the hand, the foot, etc., be injured, the whole man grieves; and if by clothing, or anything else, any particular member or part is adorned, strengthened, or better secured, it gives a general pleasure to the whole man. Take up a thread, untwist it, and you shall find that it is made up of several threads, untwisting which you shall find that they, also, are made up in the same way, and so on, and so on. The symbol of the true relationship of each member of any human family, or of the larger family, is of the Church. The various threads, so weak alone, become strong and mighty when twisted together; and, just as any cord is easiest broken where one or more of the threads are separated, so is it in the Church. Just as there is increased strength in unity, in disunity there is increased weakness. When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. In a mature and spiritual congregation, church members will have the same care for one another. In the obedient and loving church that God has planned for His children, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Only that sort of mutual love and concern can prevent or heal division and preserve unity. When there is unity and love in the church family, all members suffer when one suffers or is hurting. When one person is honored, all are honored because all believers are part of one body in Christ. Paul reminds us that we are a body, and as such, we each have responsibilities to the other parts. When another believer is hurting, we need to respond to that need (Galatians 6:1-2). People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service, if I, who make it what it is, am filled with these. Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.

Questions to Consider:
What does it mean to care?
What should there not be in the body?
What should happen when one member suffers?
Who are you going to call at 2AM when you have a personal need?
Is it going to be your favorite preacher on T.V. who is halfway across the country and will not respond, or is it going to be the pastor who is faithfully ministering to his church and community?

Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for saving me and putting me within Your Church, Your Body. May I fulfill the purpose You have called me to do and honor You in faithfully supporting every other believer that makes up Your Church. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #9 of this series.

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