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

I remember a demonstration in my system's theory segment of a graduate family counseling course. The professor took five students and had them stand in a circle. Then, he tied yarn to the right hands of each person for each relationship they had with another person. 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 was Paul's point to the Corinthians. 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 important and who is not before you act to help the person in distress because everyone is connected to you personally.

Paul even goes on to say that those who are weakest, have the greatest needs, or seem less vital are those we focus on and lavish the most attention on. 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 says 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.