Together in Christ: 'Interconnected and Interdependent!' — 1 Corinthians 12:22-26

I remember a demonstration in the system's theory segment of my graduate family counseling course. The professor took five students and had them stand in a circle. Then, he tied the right hands of all of them together with yarn. While they had little room to move around, they soon learned they were connected to each other and all others. His point was clear: In a family, if something happens to one member, their problems, pains, movements, withdrawal, and disruptions impact everyone with whom they're connected!

This vital interconnectedness and interdependence were Paul's emphasis to the Corinthians in today's verses. No matter who you think is important or who you think is insignificant, you are connected to everyone else in the body of Christ. If someone needs care, you give it, or the group suffers. If someone is pulling away, you pull them back into the relationship. You don't evaluate who is seemingly important and who is not before you act to help the person in distress, because everyone is connected to you personally.

Paul even went on to say that those who are weakest, have the greatest needs, or seem less vital are "the most necessary," so we focus on them and lavish the most attention on them. So, don't elevate someone in the body of Christ because of their spiritual gift, and don't denigrate someone else because of their gift. As Paul said it:

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.