1Cor.12:14. For the body is not one member, but many. Of course, this is talking about the many members of Christ's body, but, I'm going to apply it to all mankind because we are all members of the body of man and yet, we are all different.
12:15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? There are many members in the body of man, and they all have a purpose in this life. Let''s say you are a foot, which would probably be someone who doesn't get much recognition for their work. I think of people who work at jobs such as a garbage man, waitress, street cleaner, dish washer, clerk at a grocery store or any other job thought of as lowly. These jobs are necessary for our well being and without someone willing to do them, our lives would be a lot harder. Now, the hand is a body part we can all see. So, that might be a job that is given more dignity by people. Let's say a lawyer, Dr., or movie star. They have a lot of exposure and are well spoken of. You see, if we were all equal, then we would allbe given the same appearance, intellect and abilities. Noone would look any different from another. What kind of world would that be? A world of clones and robots.
12:16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? The ear and eye are similar in this regard; they are both necessary to hear and see. Losing your eyesight or hearing is devastating to most people. Yet, each of these organs has a specific purpose in our bodies and we don't say one is more important than the other.
12:17. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? See how the body works together perfectly? No part of your body is jealous of the other parts, unlike people who are often times jealous of those who are more attractive, wealthy or more popular. How would we know what a beautiful woman was without the ugly women? You need the contrast to compare between the two.
12:18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. It's God who sets men in the body of mankind. Noone chooses where he is born, who his parents are, where he will grow up. Does it seem like God plays favorites? Yes, to me it does because there are children born with silver spoons in their mouths and children born whose parents don't know when their next meal will be eaten. If the meaning of fair is equality among all, then God doesn't seem fair to me.
12:19. And if they were all one member, where were the body? As I said if God was fair we would all be alike. We'd look alike, all be the same height, weight, live in the same type house, drive the same car, have the same possession. There would be absolutely no difference between any of us.
12:20. But now are they many members, yet but one body. God created all of us so we are all important to him. We all have something to do that will make this world a better place.
12:21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
12:22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: Let us look at each other through the eyes of God, for He truly judges the heart and not the outer shell.
12:23. 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. AMEN
12:24. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
12:25. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. No jealousy, envy or strife in the body of man or the body of Christ.
12:26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
12:27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. We, as members of the human race, are just as special and needed as the members of the body of Christ. May we all esteem each other highly and not forget what the world would be like if there weren't so many different kinds of people in it.
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