The Important Conference
Continuing in the spirit of agreement we present, "The Important Conference"
held by the members of the Body of Christ to determine which member and function
is the most important.
It is important to note that many members considered their work more important
than any conference and refused to attend. These members included the Liver,
Spleen, blood, blood vessels, lungs, and many others. After
considerable discussion (some rather heated) the right eye, the right thumb, the
right big toe, the heart, and an unmentionable part who forced his way into the
conference with the argument that his job was so important that the body would
die if he did not or could not do his job. The tongue was excluded by
majority vote. The members felt that if the tongue were included the conference
would never end and the body would suffer because so many important members
would be distracted.
It was agreed, again after much discussion that the topic was to be, "What Part
or Function is Most Important to the Body of Christ." It was agreed that each
participating member was to make a brief statement (No more than 200 words)
explaining his or her importance to the body of Christ. After a few
hours discussion it was agreed that the right big toe was to speak first (Most
privately felt it would be worth it to expose with his own words how very
unimportant he was.) After discussing the order (by size, placement in the body
high or low, amount of actual work done, etc. and etc.) in which the other
members would speak it was finally decided that they would speak in alphabetical
order.
We spare you the discussions of the rules of order finally agreed upon, the
proper manner of addressing each other even more finally agreed upon and again
etc and etc.
The Right Big Toe said, "I balance the Body, if I am removed or inactive the
body will fall. It takes months for the Body to learn to walk properly after my
loss or my inability to function." If the Body cannot walk it cannot walk the
narrow way therefore I am the most important member of the body. It was deleted
from the official report but there was a distraction then as the left big toe
shouted, "And you do it all alone too, right, brother?"
Next, the Right Eye spoke, "If the body can't see it will fall in the ditch and
be hurt or killed and that in spite of all the right big toe can do to balance
it. Without me the beauty of our Lord's creation would be unknowable to the
Body. Even love would be almost impossible without sight and it would be nearly
impossible for the Body to read and so would always know less than it needs to
know. Therefore I am indispensable to the Body! The other members of the
conference were beginning to consider his statement when the left eye stormed in
and shouted, "Right brother, stupid brother! It is clear that you have always
believed natural sight is more important than spiritual sight!" And then the
left eye quoted the HEAD, (Mat 5:29 KJV) AND IF THY RIGHT EYE OFFEND THEE,
PLUCK IT OUT, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: for it is profitable for thee that one of
thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
---Finally the conference was adjourned for the day because all knew the eye's
argument had been going on for years and none expected a resolution in this
life.
The Heart said, "If I quit pumping for more than 3 or 4 minutes we are all dead.
I believe that makes it obvious that I am the most important part of this body.
The other parts were trying to formulate an answer when unexpectedly the Brain
who had not been invited or recognized interrupted with, "I will have a comment
on brother Heart's comment later on."
The Right Thumb, still confused over the Brain's interruption, spoke. I am the
gripper. That is, almost nothing could be lifted or carried by the body without
me. Everyone agrees that the opposing thumb enhances the Body and it's
intelligence by enabling it to grasp, hold and examine objects. Actually
not just the body but mankind is in great measure, because of the opposing
thumb's abilities enhanced and enabled to do more.
Immediately another distracting interruption by the hands, "And you do your
gripping all alone, right, thumb? The interruption was not included in the
minutes. After all, by their own choice the fingers were not part of the
conference. The Left Thumb also had a strong negative comment but was silenced
before he could speak.
The Unmentionable Part spoke slowly and clearly. "I know my name is not
mentioned in polite society because I excrete the Body's waste. But if I cease
to function, in 2 or 3 days the body will be quite uncomfortable and unless I
begin to function properly death will occur in 2 to 3 weeks. So you don't have
to mention my name but please know I am essential to the body's health and
comfort and my function is eventually life or death to the body.
While the conference thought and talked about how long they had to discuss the
matter the Brain spoke up, "I am the brain and almost nothing is done in or by
this body without me. But remember my function is dependent upon nearly all of
you, without you I would die, just as without me you would die. In fact our Head
before we were created decided exactly what was essential to the Body. You must
remember we are HIS Body. In fact, this conference and all your bickering about
who or what is important, is just silly because HE had it all planned all along.
Besides which of you can be the heart or the right thumb or anything other than
what he or she was designed to be by the master designer?
(1 Cor 12:13 KJV) FOR BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE 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. (1 Cor 12:14 KJV) For the body is not one member, but
many. (1 Cor 12:15 KJV) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am
not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (1 Cor 12:16 KJV) 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? (1 Cor 12:17 KJV) If the whole body were an eye, where were
the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (1 Cor 12:18 KJV)
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased him. (1 Cor 12:19 KJV) And if they were all one member, where were the
body? (1 Cor 12:20 KJV) But now are they many members, yet but one body. (1 Cor
12:21 KJV) And 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. (1 Cor 12:22 KJV) Nay, much
more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (1
Cor 12:23 KJV) 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. (1 Cor 12:24 KJV) For our comely parts have no
need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour
to that part which lacked: (1 Cor 12:25 KJV) THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN
THE BODY; BUT THAT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE ONE FOR ANOTHER. (1Cor
12:26 KJV) AND WHETHER ONE MEMBER SUFFER, ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER WITH IT; OR
ONE MEMBER BE HONOURED, ALL THE MEMBERS REJOICE WITH IT.---
Would God the church could grasp this truth and live it! Those of you who are
interested in church growth and especially those of you who are prophesying that
God is going to do it all except take the offering, let me assure you, OBEY and
DO this scripture and teach your people to obey and do it and your church will
grow!
(1 Cor 12:27 KJV) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1
Cor 12:28 KJV) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Cor 12:29 KJV) ARE ALL APOSTLES? ARE
ALL PROPHETS? ARE ALL TEACHERS? ARE ALL WORKERS OF MIRACLES? (1 Cor 12:30 KJV)
HAVE ALL THE GIFTS OF HEALING? DO ALL SPEAK WITH TONGUES? DO ALL INTERPRET? ---
Of course they don't do much of this in the United States and the majority
wrestle not with anyone or anything or any issue. I have seen and heard MANY,
who are so obviously bound by the devil in so many kinds of error and bondage
actually teach that they have the devil under their feet.
Jesus said --- (Mat 25:44 KJV) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord,
when saw we thee an hungered, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or
in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (Mat 25:45 KJV) Then shall he
answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT TO ONE OF
THE LEAST OF THESE, YE DID IT NOT TO ME. (Mat 25:46 KJV) AND THESE SHALL
GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT: but the righteous into life eternal.
Love does, at least eventually, what love does! Hate and indifference do what
they do. What do you do? God is love! We are ordered to love and are supposed to
be filled with God the Holy Spirit, are you treating even your family as
you would treat Jesus the Christ? Because believer you are in fact treating
those around you as you would treat Jesus Christ! Because love does what love
does judgment day will be easier for the Lord than most imagine, all HE has to
do is remember how you treated Him in the person of your wife or husband and/or
other people around you.
Love doesn't have and certainly won't take time to worry about who is or is not
important or more important. But remember, while love actually does what love
does and hate actually does what hate does, people who are good at
making excuses are seldom good for anything else.
Let me say, agreement is important and agreeable, but true love is often, if not
usually, hated. So agreement really proves nothing, but true caring/love ALWAYS
does! --- (John 13:35 KJV) BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES,
IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.
Please Brothers and Sisters, What do you have physically, mentally, or
spiritually, that you did not receive? --- The Apostle Paul settled the issue
this way. Would God we the body of Christ could receive this truth and walk in
it! (1 Cor 4:7 KJV) For who maketh thee to differ from another? And WHAT HAST
THOU THAT THOU DIDST NOT RECEIVE? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou
glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
By Ben Lucas
E-mail:
colprez@juno.com