The Body

by Brandy Webb

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it (Psalm 139:14, NLT).

Have you ever thought about how wonderfully complex our bodies are? How intricate the Designer created us? Just think of our brains for instance. A professor from Stanford University, Dr. Kwabena Boahen, stated that our brains are “actually able to do more calculations per second than even the fastest supercomputer” (https://www.livescience.com/27907-neurogrid-brain-simulator-brain-awareness-nsf.html). There is so much going on in our bodies at every given second that we do not see. We have a complete electric circuit system inside us. It is amazing to think how sophisticated the human body can be. It is full of different talented systems that have to intricately and cohesively work together for us to be alive.

Now, consider God’s body, His people. Paul describes how we are to be the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. Just like our physical bodies have different components, Christ’s body is made up of different components. I love Paul’s blunt statement in 1 Corinthians 12:15-20:

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

Every one of us is an important component to Christ’s body. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. We are all created in His image. He is very creative and talented, and He gifted us with our own individual talents through His Spirit. So, do you feel very talented?

I know from my own experiences it is easy to fall into the comparison trap, to be that “ear” that wants to be the “eye.” However, that means I am not trying to see the vessel that God created me to be. I am looking at the Potter, in a way, and saying, “Why didn’t you create me like that vessel over there?” The comparison trap is not healthy, and it is not what God wants us to do. I realize that I need to focus on my talents and how I can use them to help His body move intricately and cohesively. You and I need to make sure we do not fall into that deception that there are more important talents than others. I mean, think about it; do any of us think our blood is less important than our brain? No, because our brains can’t survive without it. I am also pretty sure that none of us believe that our heart is more important than our lungs? I mean, how many of us believe that we can survive without breathing?

Continuing in 1 Corinthians 12, we can see in verses 22 and 24 that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (v. 22), and “God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it” (v. 24). Why? Verses 25-26 answer that question. God doesn’t want “division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). 

It is looking at Christ’s body through the lens of our physical body that we can realize that the body cannot survive with just a few Godly talented people. Just like our bodies can’t survive with just a few working members. Also, the body needs to be healthy in order to work properly. We all know that our physical bodies deteriorate over time. And sometimes some of our bodies decide not to work correctly. An injury or a disease may block communication within the body. Well, this can happen very easily within God’s body of believers, also, if we aren’t working together. We have to be able to communicate well. If we aren’t communicating, we can’t do what Paul states in Galatians 6:2: “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” I am sure we all desire to fulfill the “Law of Christ.” Well, we need to work together in order to do just that.

I believe we all have various talents that God has given us for the edification of His body. How well are we using our talents, so that the body can work fluidly?

I know that some of us may not think we have much to bring to the table, but remember it is the behind the scenes parts of our body that God bestows more honor to. Therefore, if you have the talent of serving, then serve with your full heart. If you have the talent of hospitality, then be that person that brings God’s people together outside of church. If you have the talent of a comforter, comfort those who are hurting. Remember, not all of us are called to be ministers, teachers, and so on; however, we are all called to do something that helps the body.

We have all been given a measure of His glorious and creative Spirit. We need to help each other. This world is not going to get any easier. Use your talents to lift each other up and to aid each other in making it to our final destination, His Kingdom. Thank God daily for how He created you, your own unique individual self. You are a talented person, and you are part of the Body of Christ.