Mysteries and Wonders

Paul’s description of the church as the body of Christ encourages an appreciation for all parts and every function. He used such an illustration to relate the need for valuing and respecting every aspect of the shared efforts of the people of God as we have been individually and collectively gifted by God to minister in His name. As varying as our gifts might be, the reality remains that we need one another and none of us can claim that our gift in particular makes us any more valuable than another’s. The fact is, unless we are willing to invest ourselves in sharing the gifts we have been given, then we will find them essentially useless and never of value personally. Spiritual gifts are given to be shared.

I heard an illustration once that described a painter’s interpretation of heaven and hell. Both pictures he painted were of a roomful of people at a banquet table filled with food. The problem was that none of the people had elbows. So in one picture, the one of hell, all the people were emaciated and starving while seated at a table filled with abundance. In the other picture, everyone was fit and healthy, but the one difference was, they were all feeding each other. Heaven requires us to recognize the divine gifts of God are ours to share. Self-interests have no benefit in the face of God’s promise to provide for all our needs as we first acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives.

Now to illustrate again: Did you know that scratching your ear can relieve a tickle in your throat? Did you know that rubbing ice on the back of your hand between the web of your thumb and forefinger can reduce the pain of a toothache? Did you know that rocking your head from side to side can relieve poor circulation in your lower body? These are amazing and true facts that illustrate the nature of the wonderful physical interactions of the parts of our body. What if we valued and appreciated our brothers and sisters in faith as connected, interrelated, and essential parts of the body of Christ? Perhaps we would understand that in encouraging others we would find our own blessing.