1 Corinthians 12:22

1 Corinthians 12:22 says, Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  Paul continues to use the analogy of the body to point out that we need all the members of the church to effectively accomplish God's will, just as our physical body needs all its parts to work at optimum efficiency.  I realize that there are some parts of the body that we can live without, but that does not mean that the body works at an optimum level without them, even if we do not totally understand their purpose.  Just as some body parts might be viewed as more feeble, or less necessary, so could some Christians be viewed.  We may look at it fellow believer and wonder what purpose they serve in the church, but if all church members, all the members of the body of Christ, are working together, we should never look down on others.  All are needed, and none is more important than the other, as long as each is utilizing their own spiritual gift or gifts.  Verse twenty-three adds, And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.   We need to understand that all parts of the body have a purpose, and not feel that they are unimportant just because they seem to do little for the body.  The church can function without all the little things being done by those who we might not even notice as they exercise their own spiritual gift, but the church will not function as efficiently as it should.  We should be thankful for those who do the things that are necessary but maybe not glorious in the eyes of the world.  Verse twenty-four continues, For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  Some parts of our bodies are acknowledged as being very necessary, but we don't need to continually praise their function, any more than we need to dismiss those parts that seem less necessary.  As the body of Christ, we cannot glorify some members while ignoring others.  We are all necessary to be most effective in spreading the gospel.  Verse twenty-five states, That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  If we begin to glorify certain members of the church and ignore others, then a schism, or division, may occur in the church.  We must always remember that whatever gift or gifts we may have, they come from God.  We do not have what may be viewed as a greater gift because we are more important to God, so we should not act as though we are more important than someone else with what could be viewed as a lesser gift.  Verse twenty-six adds, And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  Paul tells us that we should all suffer or rejoice together.  I believe that sometimes we are better at suffering together than we are at rejoicing together.  Too often we become envious when another believer seems to be blessed more than we are, but we are to rejoice with them instead.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  Paul reminds us that we are one in purpose, spreading the gospel of Christ and strengthening our understanding of what it means to follow Christ, but we each have a particular role in accomplishing that purpose.   Verse twenty-eight says, And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  I believe that the key to this verse is that God gives us our gift or gifts.  We are not called to develop a gift that we do not have, but the gift that God gives us.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?  Paul was asking if all had the same gift.  Verse thirty continues, Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?  There are Christians today who seem to think that every Christian should speak in tongues, which I think they misinterpret, as a sign that they are truly saved.  Paul tells us that not all Christians have this gift.  Verse thirty-one concludes, But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.  I don't believe that Paul was telling us to covet a gift that we see as being better than the gift or gifts that we have, but that the more excellent way is to develop the gift or gifts that we have been given by God.