1 Corinthians 12:12 The shortcomings and potentials

1 Corinthians 12:12
12 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.

I’ve heard this illustration so many times, yet it always gets my mind thinking. Though we are many people in the church (in context: many gifts. Out of context: personalities, thinkings, the way we get things done, etc), we are all one in Christ. We have our strengths and our weaknesses.

The thing that I got out of this illustration is that our weaknesses is someones strength. It means that we, as a church, depend on each other. I can play music, but I can’t cook. That’s where the other person comes in. Every single person is a part of the body, so why is it that we dock others for their weakness? Why do we look at other people’s shortcomings, but not their potential? I am very guilty of this, looking at why they’re here instead of looking for what they can do.

Whenever you see someone that you just don’t get along with, ask yourself why? Why do you not get along with them?
Whenever you see someone and what they are weak at, ask yourself of their potential. What can they do here?

I think I’ve said this before, if we are united as one, “then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Gen 11:6
As long as we are working as one, for the common good and the Lord’s will, nothing will be impossible for us.

1 Corinthians 11:18 Why Divide?

1 Corinthians 11:18  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

Divisions seem to be a big problem in the Corinth church (1 Cor 3 and 12)….and in many churches in this generation. This division in the church leads to not looking for other’s needs or selfishness….obviously something that we’re not suppose to do. (Again, Phil 2:3, 1 Cor 10:24, etc)

I was trying to think, what makes us divided? Obviously, we don’t divide ourselves from people we like. We, in reality, try to make things work with them. We divide with people we don’t like or people with traits we don’t like. Do you ever remember a time when you really didn’t like someone, but after, they became your friend? You didn’t talk with them, you didn’t associate yourself with them, you just didn’t….like them….at first. Only until you got to know them did you really see that there was no point in that division.

With the people you divide yourself with, did you ever take the time to really think about them? Talk to them. I mean, seriously. Did you try to work things out? As a person whose faith is more mature, sometimes you have to try harder than the person you’re divided with. Have you ever really done that?

In the story of the Tower of Babel, God says in verse 6 of chapter 11 “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Meaning, if we’re united and doing the same thing…for God (the people building weren’t doing it for God and He ultimately came down and messed it up…how? By breaking the unity.), nothing would be impossible.

As it says to love God with all your mind, you should do the same with men. Love them with all your mind. Find out how to you can love people to bring unity to the church.