Articles
My Share of Behalf of His Body
I read Col. 1:24 recently and couldn’t help but think of our most recent study last Wednesday night concerning endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In that passage Paul wrote, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church…” (ESV) The NASU translates it: “...I do my share on behalf of His body…” Paul’s words imply that each of us have our own share of work that we must do to this end. Such words as “diligence” or “endeavor” would not have been used if the effort was an easy one. And therefore, if the task before us is as monumental as the scriptures lead us to believe, and only some or few of us are carrying our share of the load, then the burden (not in a bad sense) will not be lifted. Consider the extent to which the apostle Paul was willing to go to carry his share of the load.
Paul was willing to suffer for the benefit of the body of Christ. And it’s not just that he was willing to suffer for it, but that he re-joiced in the opportunity to suffer for Christ’s body. I wonder what would be the result if we demonstrated the same earnest zeal for the health and welfare of the church. What do you suppose the result would be if every decision we made, every word we spoke, and every action we took was the result of careful contemplation about what was in the ultimate best interests of the church? Think of the labors of love that would motivate. Think of the zeal for the lost that would stimulate! Think of the problems that would eliminate!
But alas, it is much more common for us to think, not for the sake of “His” body, but for our own sakes. We are often more interest-ed in getting in the last word, rather than the right word, spoken in the right way and at the right time. “A man has joy by the an-swer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! (Prov. 15:23; see also 15:1). That is probably why Paul, when explaining the necessary disposition of those who will endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit, said: “with all lowliness and gen-tleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another (Eph. 4:2).
How many times have churches been splintered over personality conflicts, hurt feelings, and anger? How many in the body of Christ remain, even now, alienated from various brethren, not because of some doctrinal heresy that was promulgated or some sinful action that was excused or defended, but because some-one is unwilling to confess their sin, or the offended party is un-willing to forgive? Paul’s answer in the midst of such schisms in the body of Christ at Philippi was simple, “I implore Euodia and I implore Synteche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Let us always esteem the sake of His body as more important than ourselves, and do our share.
