Because the Church is the body of Christ, every member of Jesus is related to all the others. The right pinky toe might be a long way away from the left eardrum, but they are organically and vitally connected.

This is true of Christians whatever our station in life is and whether we even know it or even deny it. Paul writes, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?” (1 Cor. 12:13-19).

What does it mean and what does it matter that Christians are members of Christ together? It means we really do need each other. “And 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” (1 Cor. 12:21).

No Christian can say he doesn’t need the Church, the other members of Jesus. Saying he doesn’t need them doesn’t change his membership in the body, but it changes his opportunity to bless and be blessed.

Paul says “there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:25-26). It takes significant effort to know when someone is suffering and when someone is rejoicing. Hurting people are already burdened and sharing can be another burden. We have to build trust, show tenderness, consistency, and loyalty in order to help. These things don’t happen overnight or just on Sundays.

But also takes effort to rejoice. Our world, and the church too, is fraught with sidelong glances. When hearing about someone else’s financial blessing, it’s a real temptation to think, “Well I’m still broke.” Or when they get promoted, “My boss doesn’t like me.” In the church, we spiritualize it up a little to say, “I hope it doesn’t go his head so that he gets proud.”

To suffer with the body is to be part of healing, and to rejoice is be part of the joy. This is why brings us together and made us His body.