One Finger (1 Corinthians 12:22-25)

I glanced at the clock. 5 PM. It was time to start my prep for dinner. I honed my knife and prepared to slice the onion. My first strokes quickly sliced through. Turning it, I made several more cuts in preparation for dicing. I was pleased that my knife was sharp, so sharp that it quickly cut into my left index finger. It happened so quickly. It was only the burst of blood on the cutting board followed by the sting of the onion juice in the wound that alerted me to my plight. I quickly grabbed a paper towel and applied pressure. However, unlike previous knife cuts, this one did not stop after a few seconds. I lifted the paper towel, now crimson, and was dismayed to see the blood still flowing, unabated by my efforts. Not good. I switched out the paper towel and applied pressure for thirty minutes. I slowly lifted the towel and could still see the oozing but the flow had diminished. It was then I noticed that blood had dripped over my pants, feet, and over the kitchen counter and floor. It looked like a scene from an attack. It was. I attacked myself!

For the next few days, I cautiously did my usual activities, handicapped by avoiding any stress on the wound. It should have been a simple task, but either I would unconsciously use my left hand for a task or bump my finger against an object. More than once, it reopened the wound. After a few days, I was dumbfounded at how losing one finger could so dramatically alter my lifestyle. I took it for granted until its loss made me understand its importance.

It was a sobering metaphor for my life. There are so many necessities that I take for granted. Only when missing or damaged, do I realize my ignorance. God created our universe and so finely tuned it that if the forces that hold atoms together were off by only a little, it would not exist. From the sun’s life-giving sustenance to the diversity of the plant and animal kingdom, God created all to exist in perfect harmony. Yet, how often do I give thanks for His Creation that allows me to exist? What about the Church? Every believer in the Body of Jesus Christ is important. Like my cut finger, how often do I take for granted the work of my brothers and sisters? My Pastor prepares his weekly sermon to nourish and feed our local church. Numerous people work behind the scenes to set up the sanctuary and meet and greet members and visitors upon arrival. And then, there are the teachers, musicians, audiovisual team, and others who work together to serve God and make each service a blessing for others. How many other dear Saints serve God in ways of which I am completely ignorant?

In fact, some parts of the body that seem the 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. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 

1 Corinthians 12:22-25 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, wrote this beautiful description of the members of the Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. Like my finger, members who seem least important are the most necessary. As fellow believers in Jesus Christ, we should take extra care to protect and honor these members. It is not only the unseen workers in a church, it is the sick, the poor, the elderly, the imprisoned, and those with special needs. All who seem less honorable or forgotten, God asks all of us to care for. When we do, we are caring for Jesus Christ.

And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.”

Matthew 25:45 (NLT)

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.