In 1 Corinthians 12 we find an argument raised between the different body parts – “If the ear should say…,” or, “if the foot should say…,”
Imagine the different body parts communicating with one another in the following conversation:
“Most of us are found on the head and because we are on top, we certainly are the most beautiful,” said Hair. “Oh, would someone please comb us…. Thank you very much. Now look at us, see, beautiful!”
From down below a pair of muffled voices answered back in stereo, “Oh great, just because you are found on top you think you are the most important. We have a very important job in walking you to the mirror every day, Hair. Without us you would have no idea how untidy you are. By the way, could someone please take these tackies off? We need some fresh air.”
“Wow,” blinked Eyes. “Who said that? Neck, would you please tilt us a little so that we can see who’s talking? No, not you two smelly characters at the bottom! Feet, let me tell you, if it were not for us, you would have been bumping your toes everywhere. By the way, Hair, how would you know how beautiful you are without us looking into the mirror?”
Eyes continued, “Would someone remove the speck from my left eye and wipe off the tears, please?”
“Aiteechoo,” Nose chipped in. “I need a soft tissue, please.” Then he continued, “Eyes, how would you know about those two shady characters down under without me telling you that?” With a sniff Nose pointed his tip into the air to express his importance.
Indignantly Mouth joined in. “Guys, guys… how do you think you would survive without me, taking in the food and water to feed and strengthen you?”
Suddenly they heard a splatter and voices that sounded like someone gargling in a fish tank. “Take us out, take us out!”
A pair of Hands appeared above the basin. “Phew, spit, ouch! Do you know what this dishwashing liquid is doing to us? You have no idea!”
Hands grabbed a towel and dried off. “We are so tired of listening to you bragging about your importance. Tell me, Hair, who is holding a brush every day to comb you?”
Silence fell over the body as Hands continued. “Feet, yes, you are doing the walking but we put on your shoes and take them off as well. We are the ones who have to wash off the dust when you choose to go outside barefoot. Eyes, we have to wipe off your tears and we are the ones who wipe you as well, Nose! Do you really think we enjoy doing that?”
“Phew!” Bums said. “I can vouch for that. If it were not for you two, Hands, I would have had a pretty miserable existence.”
“Thank you, Bums,” Hands continued. “Although you have a less honourable job, you are very important. In fact, each and every one of us is important. You get tired, Eyes, when it gets late and so do you, Feet and Legs, but we never get tired and we have to work continuously. We are built to do that and we love it. However, all of us are a team and we need one another. Stop this bickering and serve each other with pride.”
This is more or less the message 1 Corinthians 12 portrays. We as Christians are supposed to be a team serving Jesus by serving other people without us assigning important positions to ourselves. Jesus served us and our hands and feet should never grow tired.
The devil saw how Jesus walked to different places and how His hands touched and healed many people. He saw those hands lifting the lame to their feet, touch the eyes of the blind to open them, break a few loaves of bread to feed a multitude, and countless miracles more.
The devil thought Jesus had been stopped when His hands and feet were pinned to a wooden cross. He made a huge mistake… Jesus is alive but if we do not put our hands and feet in motion for the service of God, we would be doing what the devil had failed to accomplish – stop the work of Jesus.