I Corinthians 12:24-27

We have a body that is made up of many parts. Shall we call them sheep? Shall we call them saints? But, all of them are important. There is a great deal of diversity of personality and a great deal of diversity of gifts of the Holy Spirit but the body functions as a unit.

Now, you can see all the metaphors here joining together. They all give similar pictures. You cannot have a building that is so loosely joined together that the bricks fall out, or you open up a door and it comes off the hinges, or you put up a window and it falls out of the wall.

No, you see, there is a solidarity there. Every part of the body, every part of the structure, is responsible to all the other parts of the structure and their responsibility includes not only working on themselves but to make sure they are cooperating with the builder—God who is co-working with them and also every body else—cooperating with all the other stones, all the other sheep, all the other saints, all the other parts of the body. That contributes, then, to the overall well-being and strength of the whole.

I Corinthians 12:20-27

We have our place in the Body of Christ. Paul uses the metaphor of the body to illustrate the unity, the interdependence that we have in the church. And each member of the church has its part to contribute to the whole. He stresses that the gifts are necessary and should be valued regardless of their perceived importance, and that the focus should be on serving the Body rather than seeking personal glory. I find it interesting that the chapter that follows this one immediately is the Love Chapter, because if love does not accompany the gifts that we are given, what good are they? What are the gifts if they are corrupted by selfishness and pride?

I Corinthians 12:19-27

If you were following there carefully, you will see that no part of the body is seen as being more important, more necessary, better or intrinsically possessing more authority—regardless of office. The arrangement of all the parts of the body is not left to chance, but is by appointment of God; and each part is shown as needing the other! Did you get that?