Body Building Daily Devotional - 27

1 CORINTHIANS 12:22-25 | ²² On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴ whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵ that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

Paul can do lofty theology and grounded instruction. He offers a very practical community ethic that echoes Jesus saying, “the last shall be first, and the first last.” God has arranged the body so as to “give greater honor to the inferior member.” Ecclesiastical interdependence is not a hierarchy, with some people having superior roles and gifts. In fact, both Paul and Jesus encourage us to see “the weaker as indispensable,” and to turn the world’s values upside down. We can learn from the little ones and not just the PhD’s. We can listen to the trembling and venerable voices and not just the steady vigorous ones. We can flip the social scale and celebrate the humble and not just the high up.

How might you honor a supposedly “inferior” member?

Tags: honor