W.L. Totty (Deceased)
The apostle Paul compares the church to the physical body. He said, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body; so also is Christ.” (I Cor. 12:12.) As there is but one Christ, there is also but one body. Paul says, “For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (V. 13.)
In comparing the church with the physical body, the apostle Paul said, “For the body is not one member, but many.” (V. 14.) Christ “is the head of the body, the church,” (Col. 1:18); and “we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:24.) Paul says: “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 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? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are there many members, yet but one body.” (Vs. 15-20.) That does away with the idea that there are many churches using different names and teaching various doctrines.
The above scripture is easily understood. All the members of the human body, each with a different function, constitute only one body. Our work in the church must be done according to our individual ability in order to receive a reward. The parable of the talents illustrates that point. (Matt. 25:14-30.) We cannot all be preachers, because we do not all have the ability to preach. But if we were all qualified to be preachers there would be no one to whom we should preach. Neither can we all be elders, because many of us do not meet the qualifications. Even some who are holding that title are not qualified, because they have not studied to show themselves approved unto God. But if all were elders, there would be no flock over which they would need to be shepherds.
However, each member has some talent to do some work of the church; and though it may not be as a teacher, preacher, or elder, there is much other work to be done in the field by individuals. Some members seem to think that all the work the church does is during the assembly and that if they are not publicly participating in that work, they are not pleasing to God. But there are the sick to be visited, negligent members who need to be called upon, and the alien sinners to be contacted; and there is always a need to be an example to others in our daily living. We must always remember that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. One may have a stronger light than the other, but we must let what we have shine so others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 15:16.)
There are members of the church who seem to think that they can worship and serve the Lord once a week and that is enough for the whole week. However, important as it is, there is much more work to be done than not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Christianity is an everyday obligation. The Bible says, “...be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (I Cor. 15:58.)
The writer to the Hebrews says, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,” (not necessarily teachers from the pulpit or in the classroom), “ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb. 5:12.)
Every member of the church has his own work to do, just as the members of the human body have separate and distinct functions; for instance, the heart cannot substitute for the lungs; neither can the lungs perform the function of the liver. In the church, one may not be able to do what the other one does, but we must understand that every work in the church is important, just as the work of each member of the human body is important to the well-being of the whole body.
The apostle Paul says, “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. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.” (I Cor. 12:21-22.) A member of the church, with talents of the very least significance, as long as he puts those talents to their proper use, is important in the sight of the Lord.
Further, Paul says, “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. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.” (I Cor. 12:23-24.) You recall that Jesus said the widow who cast into the treasury two mites had given more than all the others who gave of their abundance. (Mark 12:42; Lk. 21:2.)
As we increase our faith, let us also use our talents to increase our number, never becoming satisfied with what we have already done, but striving to grow stronger in the favor of God in order that at the end we may hear Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
—The Informer, Vol. 29, No. 6.
December 14, 1975