The title of this article is taken from 1 Corinthians 12:1616And 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 Corinthians 12:16), where the Apostle Paul is discussing spiritual gifts — their use and abuse. He points out that each one in the body of Christ has been given a particular gift and has a specific function. If each one fulfills his or her proper role, the body of Christ, like the human body, performs well. However, each one of us must be content with the role the Lord has assigned to us and be willing to do it for His glory. As we see in this chapter, this does not always happen.
The discussion highlights the two common problems in the human heart, concerning our spiritual gifts. While they might seem to be opposite to one another, yet both of the problems have the same root — pride.
Low Self-Esteem
In the first case, we read, “If the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?” (1 Cor. 12:16-1716And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (1 Corinthians 12:16‑17)). The eye is a very important part of our body, and to lose our sight would be a major blow to any of us. To lose a limb is hard, but today much can be done with prosthetics to make up for the loss. To lose our eyes, however, is to lose that which cannot be replaced, and it handicaps us severely in our everyday life. In his discussion, Paul personifies parts of the body in order to illustrate the possible reactions of the members of the body of Christ. In this first case, in the reaction of the ear to the eye, we see the classical example of low self-esteem. Those who suffer from low self-esteem are often depressed and upset because their self-image is not what they think it should be. The root of all this is pride, for those who suffer from low self-esteem really have high self-esteem; it is just that the reality does not match their ideals. In our chapter, the ear thinks it would be better to be the eye, and since it is not the eye, it pretends that it is not of the body. This is comparable to those who are not gifted in the way that others are, and then they refuse to function in the body. But the ear is very much needed in the body, and some might well feel that they would rather lose their eyesight than their hearing. In the final essence, God has a right to place us in the body “as it hath pleased Him” (vs. 18), and we should be content to fill that place for His glory.
High Self-Esteem
However, later in the chapter we find an example of high self-esteem. “The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee” (vs. 21). Here pride is still the root of the problem, but in the opposite direction. The eye, being a most important part of the body, dares to say to the hand, I do not need you. In a certain sense this is true, for the eye can function independently of the hand. But let a small speck of something get into the eye, and the hand is needed to take it out. Should the refractive ability of the lens in the eye deteriorate, the hand is needed to put on and take off the glasses or contact lenses. Also, the hand can do that which the eye cannot do. The eye may see beautiful fruit on a tree, but only the hand can pick that fruit and place it in the mouth. Every member of the body is necessary.
The result of both of these wrong attitudes has caused incalculable harm in the body of Christ. Those who suffer from low self-esteem have tended, like the ear in verse 16, to withdraw from doing what they are gifted to do, and the loss has been felt by all. Or, they have been tempted to try and do that for which they are not gifted. Again, this causes only trouble and does not edify. Because some have failed to exercise their gift, others who were not particularly gifted in that way have had to take over and do what they could, but they cannot replace the loss created by the absence of those whom God has fitted for the job.
Tempered Together
In the same way, a superior attitude of high self-esteem, as displayed by the eye in verse 21, has discouraged many, and made some feel as if they were useless and not needed. Some who are particularly gifted may look down upon others who are not so gifted, and belittle them. While it is good to recognize gift and to use it, it is most important to recognize, as we get later in the chapter, that “much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary” (vs. 22). God “hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked” (vs. 24).
It is interesting to notice that in discussing these things in this chapter, the Spirit of God uses the example of the eye in both cases before us — as an object of envy by the ear, and as an example of a superior attitude toward the hand.
W. J. Prost