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| Volume 18 Number 7 July 2016 | Page 12 |
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| Volume 18 Number 7 July 2016 | Page 12 |
Robert D. Rawson
Families are sometimes disturbed by those members who have turned to drugs, alcohol or mannerisms to the point of addiction. The Bible contains warnings for us to be cautious around such people, though they may be relatives (Proverbs 22; 1 Corinthians 5). How may we guard ourselves because those concentrating simply on self often become those who cheat, steal and commit fraud against even their best friends as well as family members?
1. Always take an inventory of what you have and where you place things, including money, jewelry, assets of any kind, such as lawnmowers, weed eaters, gas cans, etc.
2. Don’t be a helper for the addicted person to get away with taking advantage of your valuables. The addicted simply turn to those who buy stolen goods and sell for the money to get more drugs, alcohol or films and fashions to satisfy briefly the addiction.
3. Spiritually pray for all involved. Encourage the addicted to ask, seek and find a tie with Jesus more than yield to the addiction.
One Body, Many Members
Gary C. Hampton
There is one body, the church (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23). The Holy Spirit, working through earthly proclaimers of truth, causes people to be baptized into the one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
All of us recognize that the human body has many members, with each having a role to play, like tongue, ear, finger, toe, etc. “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 Corinthians 12:14-16). The answer to both questions is clearly, “No!” Every member of the physical body plays an important role that would be sorely missed if not present.
The spiritual body of the church similarly has many members within it, and each has a role to play. Paul said each member of the church or body fulfills an important function. “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:17-18).
Different functions must be performed by various members of the body to have it working as a harmonious whole. The body will never realize its full potential until each part is working to the best of his or her ability.
Let us resolve to make this the year when every member of the Lord’s church does all that he or she can to make his or her congregation a fully functioning body. We will then come to better appreciate the unity we have as one body in Christ and see the way that He can use us to bring forth much fruit to His glory.