THE LIMITATION OF THE BODY
If you are simply a believer, you can act as you please, but
if you are a member of the Body, then you must allow yourself to be limited by
the other members. Here we find the necessity of the cross. The cross leads to
the Body, and the cross operates in the sphere of the Body. If I am quick and
another is slow, I must not insist on keeping my own pace; I must allow myself
to be limited by the slow member. If I am a prophet, then I must give way to
the evangelist when it comes to the matter of preaching to the unsaved. I
should not feel the need to preach just because I have the gift of prophecy. "To
each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of
Christ" (Eph. 4:7). It is essential for the development of the Body that
we each recognize our measure and not go beyond it. This is a basic requirement
for the growth of the Body.
The Body of Christ is not only a protection to the members
but a limitation to all the members. Every Christian is but one member in the
Body of Christ and must accept the limitation of the Body. We should not allow
ourselves to go our own way; rather, we should learn to be blended with other
brothers and sisters. Individual dispositions and peculiarities have no place
in the church. Every member should honor the talents of others and be faithful
to his own. Moreover, every member should know his own capacity and not
consider himself more highly than he should. If everyone does this, there will
be no jealousy, ambition, or craving to do what others can do. In 2 Corinthians
10:14 Paul said, "For we are not extending ourselves beyond our bounds, as
if we did not reach you." Yet many people have not seen their own
capacity. As a result they overstep their boundaries. Those who over- step
their boundaries are trampling others under their feet; they are kicking
others, pressing upon others, and usurping the portion of other members. If
members behave this way in the church, some will begin to monopolize while
others will withdraw, and the result will be a loss to the church. We should
not behave in this way. We should turn back and take our place in the Body and be
limited by the Body. If we do this, the Body will be spared from damage.
No comments:
Post a Comment