If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26 (HCSB)
Series: Perfected in Unity
One of my favorite shows as a child was “Little House on the Prairie.” I worked hard to complete my homework, chores, and even my paper route so I could watch the show each day. As a spunky tom-boy who also enjoyed dresses and bows, I identified with Laura Ingalls. But more than that, the community of Walnut Grove intrigued and fascinated me.
The buildings forming this simple town included the church and schoolhouse, the mercantile, the restaurant, the sawmill, the smithy, the doctor’s office, and the houses and farms sprinkled along the prairie. The community, as a whole, met every individual need. The people came together and performed in their areas of talent, expertise, and passion to help one another—sharing their strengths to promote the success of the community.
No person is an island. We all need one another. Sure, some are survivalists and can live alone off the land. That, however, is not the norm. Genesis 2:18 tells us man should not be alone. God created us for community and we need one another. Likewise, the success of a community hinges on the people operating in their gifts, serving one another, while also recognizing, appreciating, and utilizing the gifts of others.
Paul wrote about the differing functions of people and emphasized the importance of them working together in his various letters to the churches. In Romans 12:4 (HCSB), he explained:
As we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function.
In 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (HCSB), Paul taught:
So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.
Paul, of course, is talking about the Body of Christ. And we can apply these truths to our communities. There’s the teacher, doctor, sales clerk, mechanic, banker, pilot, mayor, realtor, chef, secretary, pastor, printer, waitress, web designer, nurse, marketing specialist, musician, architect, butcher, roofer, farmer, truck driver, caregiver, librarian, welder, dietician, greeter, … on and on and on … So Many Parts! And, one community working together in unity!
Paul continues in his letter to the Corinthians:
So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary. And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation. But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other (1 Corinthians 12:21-25 HCSB).
We all together are some of one—many parts making up the one body. We all need each other and should watch out for one another. God created every person for a purpose and has placed us in our communities to serve and be served. As we work together, we promote the success of each individual and the entire community.
Thinking back to the quaint town of Walnut Grove, the members of the community always rallied together to help overcome every trial, hardship, or problem; and they rejoiced together upon every victory. They watched out for the good of one another. Even in the struggles of varying personalities and preferences, the townspeople flourished together. Every part—every person—every someone—united for the good of the community.
What are your passions or strengths? How can you contribute to the success of your community? Whether in a small town or a megacity, there is a place for you! May we unite with the “parts” around us, esteem the purpose of others, look out for their needs, and guard against divisions. Let’s be advocates of unity in our communities.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Genesis 2:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Romans 12:4
