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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
August 8
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday we finished with Paul rebuking those Corinthian believers who felt that their personal gifts made them spiritually superior to those whose gifts were not quite so flashy. He concluded verse 21 by quoting their statement,
"I have no need of you".
In verse 22 Paul responds:
"Nay".
Those who think that way are very wrong. In fact, he then writes that those with the less public gifts are necessary. In the physical body, the most feeble parts, which would include the internal organs, are never seen, but they are the most necessary to our survival. The feeble members of a church, who might be considered to be "less gifted" are actually more necessary. Some may see these members as unimportant, but they are not; they are essential. The layman who continually and faithfully shares the Gospel, although he is never seen by the crowds, is more essential for bringing people to Christ than the famous evangelist who comes to town for a week. The saint who is a prayer warrior is much more essential to the strength of the church than the most eloquent preacher in the pulpit. The point is this: no believer is to look down upon or ignore those with the "behind the scenes" gifts in the church. All are important; in fact, the "less gifted" who are using their gifts for Christ are actually more necessary. As one commentator wrote,
"They are 'where the rubber hits the road'; therefore, they should be treated with greater honor"
In verse 23 Paul illustrates their importance in another way. The human body has parts that are physically attractive, and parts that are not. Those parts of the body which are pleasant to look upon we leave alone. However, those parts which are less attractive we invest much time an effort into. For example, we may cover them with expensive or colorful clothing. The "beautiful" parts of the body do not need for us to bestow "honor" on them by clothing them or spending money on them. They can stand on their own. However, we "honor" the less attractive parts by endeavoring to make them look attractive. In verse 24, Paul adds to this illustration by showing that when God put the human body together He gave special honor to the more feeble parts. For example, many of our most vital organs are protected by our rib cage. Our brains are protected by the skull. Those parts of our body which can not "protect" themselves are protected by other parts of our body. It is interesting to note that Paul writes that God "tempered the body together". The word "temper" means "to mix or blend together". The idea here is that God has put together the human body in such a way as to allow the body to function properly. In the same way, when it comes to the church, the word shows God working as a master craftsman, putting the church together intentionally and carefully, and mixing the gifts and ministries of the members like a metallurgist mixes metals to give strength, stability, and functionality the final product.
Paul says in verse 25 that God did this so that there would be no division within the church. The church at Corinth, as we have noted numerous times, was a very divided church. Paul makes it clear that this is not the way God wants the church to be. In the human body, all the parts aid and nourish the other parts. If some part of the body is failing to do that, it is diseased, and needs to be treated. And, if it fails to respond to treatment, it may need to be removed for the good of the body. The same is true in the church. The members should not be fighting against each other, but harmoniously functioning together. When this occurs the church is healthy and will accomplish what God has called it to do. If the church is divided, then it is "sick", and will fail to be what God wants it to be.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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