1 CORINTHIANS 12
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
– 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
1 CORINTHIANS 12 COMPASSION ON THE WEAKER
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The believer does not look down on anyone weaker
Instead, they show them compassion and honor
Unlike the world system, we don’t look down on them
But we bring justice to those who are vulnerable and weak
We give the weaker parts of the body the respect they deserve
We exude love to those who are weak and unlovable.
Paul presents another conversation between parts of the body. The eye, the hand, the head and the feet were all parts of this conversation. Their topic is about who is weaker and who is stronger. Doesn’t this sound like the world? Instead of having a mindset of being united and loving, we fall into this sinful world view that we need to identify which one is greater than the other. Remember the disciples of Jesus who was with him for three years and yet still have that competitive spirit of trying to know who among them is the greatest? It is this immature perspective that gets us in envy or jealousy and eventually create division among each other.
Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that they must not have this kind of thinking. He presents how God wants them to focus on what they can do to honor those who are weak and vulnerable. God gave us the weak so we can show compassion and love, not competition, control and discrimination.
REFLECTION
- How can we develop a compassionate heart towards the weak and vulnerable?
