Know Your Place in the Body Whole:
None of us, by ourselves, are the whole, but each of us is a member of a whole. Which whole – i.e., good or evil, depends on what the individual opens or closes within himself. We are members of something; that is a fact. No man stands alone. Even a nonconformist is a member of nonconformity. To know the body whole to which we belong, to know our place within the whole – that is wisdom. All of us can't be the head. All of us can't be the foot. We must know there is no real spiritual distance between the head and the foot. The head can not look down on the foot, saying, 'I lead.' The foot can not look down on the head, saying, 'I carry.' If each of us are members of the same body, we are members of each other. While our functions vary, our value is equal. Romans 12:5 “So we, being many, are one in the body of Christ, and everyone members one of another.”
It may appear to a member that its function is small or menial. Our value as a small and menial member is equal in value to the member that is large and elevated. Only the functions are different. Romans 12:4 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.” We can not each be the same member within the whole. Common sense tells us this truth. Equally, we are assured that the body does not consist of a single member. I have never seen a head float by. Nor have I ever seen a foot stamp by. Hands do nothing apart from the arms and all the other attached parts. 1 Corinthians 12:19 “And if they were all one member, where were the body?” We have expressions that prove the connectedness of different functions. The hands are of little effect until, as we say, we 'put our backs into it.' 1 Corinthians 12:20 “But now are they many members, yet but one body.”
Imagine a person who gets an honor in school. They are a member of the honor roll. Imagine a human pyramid in which the man on the bottom falls. The other members of that pyramid fall with him. Imagine you are a member of an ordinary crowd on the street. A car bomb or a mass shooting would affect everyone in that crowd. 1 Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” On the playing field of membership, we are all equal. In a sport with teams, it is not a single player that wins or loses, but the entire team. Also in a sport with teams, the players have a common understanding that they have one coach, and all of them, the team, are just the players. They are equal to their fellow team members. They share a sameness in the team goal. Their individual functions are supported by the functions of other team members, and in a winning team, all of the players are wise enough to know that none of them is equal to or better than the coach. Matthew 23:8 “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”
The smart thing to do is to know your place. Are you a Christian? You are a member of the body of Christ. While you are a part of the body, with your own function and equal value, and while you are imbued with the spirit of the whole, you are not the whole. Know your place; fulfill your function. Matthew 23:9 “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your father, which is in heaven.” Matthew 23:10 “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” It is not the place of the team member to call the shots. You may not say that one member is more important than another. You may not say that one person belongs and another does not. The whole is a perfect and complete body. The body has the say, and within any complete and perfect union of parts, the part may only reiterate the truth of the whole. The truth of the body whole has mastery over all individual members, and there can be no individuals apart from the mastery of one whole or another. You can be part of this, or you can be part of that. Luke 6:40 “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”
Sound advice for the members of the body of Christ follows the natural flow of humble common sense. Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.” Let Jesus call the shots; let Jesus be the coach. Lean not on your own understanding. You are imbued with the spirit of Christ; run with it. You carry forward his truth; run with it. We are supported by the framework of his body. We get our strength from his muscles. He is not a part of us; we may not assume the lead. We are a part of him; our goal is his goal. Ephesians 5:30 “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
An old saying proves true on many levels. You are what you eat. You are what you incorporate. Have you incorporated the faith of Christ? You have taken that into yourself. It is now a trait you received from and share with Christ. Have you incorporated the life (bread) of Christ? It is now a trait you received from and share with Christ. Have you adopted the truth of Christ? Have you placed his goal in your heart as your own? Do you lean on his understanding? Do you get your support and strength from him? It is now a trait you received from and share with Christ. You are what you eat. 1 Corinthians 10:17 “For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
We are a part of something greater than ourselves. We are 'partakers' of the nature of Jesus Christ. He gave it all to us. He shared it freely. But where did Jesus get his nature from? God is love. What are some other ways to say the word love? Synonyms of the word love include intimacy, attachment, devotion, inclination, passion, proclivity, and – yes – worship. Look it up. We choose the nature of Christ. We choose the nature of God. It is our possession, passed down to us as a heritage. It is our birthright, and we are identified by it. Galatians 5:14 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
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