No Comparisons

Introduction

We are all good at something but we are not all good at the same things or at everything. Have you ever had the experience of comparing yourself to others and wishing you could do something as well as they did? I suspect most of us have. Years ago we had a member here who owned his own repair shop. Beuran Hicks had a high school education. He worked with his hands all of his life. He was very successful in working on cars. He drove to the building one day in a vehicle that he had designed and built. It was designed to haul his race car from track to track. When I asked him how he came up the design, he told me he just saw the finished product in his head. How long did it take him to draw up the plans? There were no plans. He visualized it and started building. That is amazing to me. I suspect Scott Guidry does something very similar but has to draw things out for inspections and passing codes. The point is that there are people with brilliant minds capable of visualizing things. I have a hard time coordinating colors.

Some are good at hospitality; some are good at problem solving; some are good with people; some are good with inspiration; some are good at visualizing; some are good at certain subjects and not so good at others; some are good at giving; some are good at silently working. But no one is good at everything. The problem comes when we compare ourselves to others. There are times when we compare ourselves to others and in our understanding we are lacking and may feel envious of another. This is not healthy. It takes focus off of what you do you to offer. On the other hand, comparisons are made in which we see ourselves as superior to others. The result is look down our noses at others and demand to be treated as superior. This is not healthy. But it is this view that Paul takes to task in our text.

There is a basic underlying sociological problem in Corinth. We saw the problem in chapter 11 when the wealthy pulled away from the poor during the Lord’s Supper. The wealthy look down on the poor believing that their status and position demands greater honor. There is nothing to indicate that there is a problem with the poor being envious of the wealthy. Instead Paul is addressing those who believe themselves to be superior. This must stop and change. Today we are going to be reminded that the body of Christ functions best when we appreciate our individual strengths, the strengths of others, and recognize that in order for the body to function it takes all of us not just a few of us. Let’s be encouraged.

Comparisons

Which part of your body is most valuable? Obviously, we must have a head. Without it we could not survive. Which part of your body are you willing to do without? Which part are you willing to lose and assume that you will not be diminished from its absence? Or let’s put it another way. Which part of your body does more for you than all the other parts? It would be difficult to separate any part of your body from the others and not miss it in some way. In fact in our language we speak of the extreme situation that it would require for us to give up a body part. “I would give my right arm to have another chance.” Such a statement speaks of extreme distress for losing one’s right arm would be tantamount to being powerless.

The problem in Corinth has to do with believing that status and position matter. The problem has resulted in spiritual confusion. There are some who believe themselves to be better than others because of their status and position. This worldly way of thinking has spread into the body in theory and practice. The wealthy have pulled away from the rest of the body during the Lord’s Supper. The wealthy believe themselves to be more important than the poor. Paul is dealing with this situation in chapters 12 and 13.

In our text, Paul begins by reminding them that they have all been baptized by the one Spirit into one body. The point is that all of them became a part of the body of Christ in the same way. The elite didn’t enter the body differently than did the poor. Each person is then given gifts to aid the entire body. One gift is not more important than another. Notice in verse 13 the specific tensions that Paul identifies—Jews or Greeks, slave or free. The point is clear. He is addressing a sociological issue. Worldly or perceived status has no bearing in Christ’s body.

He then points out the obvious. If the foot or ear despised their roles they would still be part of the body. If the whole body consisted of an eye or an ear then the body would be at an extreme deficit. The point, God has put the body together as it is needed. Each part is not only equally important but each part has been selected by God to be what it is intended to be. The implicit point is that to compare yourself to another is to diminish what God has done. It is to call into question God’s wisdom.

But the greater difficult is found in verses 21—26. Here the seemingly more important parts deny the importance of other parts. In fact, life could be lived without you. The eye doesn’t need the hand; the head doesn’t need the feet. But Paul says such a view fails to recognize the beauty of all parts. A head without feet cannot move. The eye without a hand cannot take a hold of what it sees. Paul takes the analogy to include the genitalia. The unpresentable parts are actually given special consideration and modesty because such is needed to preserve the body. The point is simple. Quit bringing the world into the body of Christ. The world honors status and power and position. Not so in the body of Christ. What the world values is not seen as better but we are to honor all because the body of Christ reveals the beauty of God’s wisdom in bringing all together where status and position and prestige no longer matter.

Conclusion

God has given specific gifts to members of the body but not all people have the same gifts. Not all are apostles, prophets, teachers or administrators. But all can eagerly desire something else—that these gifts be carried out in love and with love. That’s next week. But notice the list in verses 27—31. The last gift mentioned is tongue speaking. This is because it is one of the gifts that seems to be causing more problems in the assembly (chapter 14). Paul will address this later. So what does this text mean for us?

First, comparing ourselves to others is sin. God in his wisdom has given you gifts to use for the benefit of the body. From writing notes to teaching; from providing food for others to giving money so others can be provided for; from serving quietly to being out front in leading a movement. Each person has a role to play in the body and each loved by God has been given what is needed to help the body. To wish you were something else or to view yourself as superior because of your role is sin voiding the wisdom of God.

Second, we all come to Christ in the same way. There is no distinction. In order to become a part of the body of Christ we must all admit that we are sinners; we must all humble ourselves to Christ; we must all be baptized—immersed in water in order to reveal that we are trusting Jesus to save us not depending on ourselves. And from this God gives to all his gift of the Spirit.

Third, we are to view one another with equal concern. What happens to one affects us all. If one suffers we all suffer; if one is honored we rejoice with the honored one. Obviously this will be difficult. When you exceed a certain number there are people that you feel closer to than others. Paul’s point is to lift our eyes from our own plight and feel with others who are going through life as well. We are a part of a family. Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry, but we do this as a family. We are imperfect in our care and our motives; but we want everyone to know that we value what happens to you. We want to share in those events to celebrate with you and to weep with you. This is the will of God.

Illustration—Joe Serna and Lou Olivera. Joe Serna served three tours of duty in Afghanistan. For his service Joe returned home with two purple hearts and PTSD. This disorder came as a result of nearly drowning in an overturned vehicle. He was the only one of four to survive. In an attempt to deal with his pain, Joe turned to alcohol and he was pulled over DUIs. He was put into a program for veterans for treatment and a part of the treatment was submitting to drug testing. Joe failed a test; lied to a judge about the test; and was sentenced to serve one night in jail. His judge was Lou Olivera who was a Gulf War Veteran. Joe was driven to a nearby town to serve his sentence. Judge Olivera drove him there. As Joe entered the facility it was obvious that anxiety was rising and when he entered his cell, the effects of PTSD crept in. Confined space just like the vehicle triggered anxiety. But soon after entering his prison cell, Lou Olivera joined him and together they spent the night together. When asked why as a judge he would do that his response was simple, “Joe’s problem is our problem. We have to make sure they can be contributing members of society.”

We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. But one person’s problem becomes ours to some extent and one person’s victory is shared by all.

Invitation.

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