Unity

"We celebrate each other simply for winning the latest vacuum."

NOWHERE HAS THE DOLLAR seen more value than on The Price Is Right. Here is a game show that brings us all together with one goal—to win prizes. Read that in your best Bob Barker. Bob and Johnny and Janice and Holly have gone down in beloved U.S. History with the likes of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon. All for one reason, making winning fun.

Now, where are you going with this one, Suzanne? you ask.

Unity. No one cares two cents about Bob Barker's political views. He's Bob Barker. And no one thinks anything about the economy's faltering when guessing the price of a dishwasher or "a neeew car." A dollar's a dollar and maybe I can play Plinko and win a whole lot of them. That's the reason the show has been on the air for almost 60 years. Not greed. Joy in the moment, and all of us Americans on equal footing who love this gameshow.

There is one body of Christ and each of us are members of it. There are different callings among us, and each is meant to enhance the other. There are different gifts of the Spirit, but they are meant to work together. Just like on The Price Is Right where there were many working behind the scenes just to make Bob's job easier, the different members of the body are necessary for the body to be healthy. And that means Baptists working with Presbyterians, and Presbyterians working with Pentecostals, and Pentecostals not lording it over other denominations because they "are more enlightened."

You heard me. Your level of knowledge of the truth in the Word does not put you on a head-shaking pedestal. The Pharisees did that, continually saying Jesus was in error, and He called them out on it, noting their pride in appearance and service in the temple. He who was the most humble would save them from their sins by submitting to their sins.

The differences in the church are meant to unite us, not divide us. And this can be said more specifically of the various callings, operations, and spiritual gifts. We have divided them into categories but the purpose of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 12 was unity, oneness. That we trust the Spirit of God to use them through us as He sees there is need and in the manner He sees works best for that particular situation. And we rejoice in that they are used effectively. We celebrate each other simply for winning the latest vacuum cleaner.

We celebrate the man who just won women's jewelry. The woman who now owns a yacht. The soldier who, on his day off, sat in the audience and managed to make it on stage and win living room furniture. Maybe these three people don't agree on many things, but they have one thing in common. So are we in Christ, united by the Holy Spirit to do the work in abundance that Jesus began in Galilee, on His own.

He was one, but now He is many, and unity is our strength. Unity out of love for the one who unites us with His salvation, His Spirit, and His calling. Under one banner. As a body, of many parts which are all needed no matter how insignificant they appear to be. Because when all is said and done, a dollar is still a dollar and the center of a gameshow that has united us all in the hope that person will win something, though we know nothing about them.

Who they are doesn't matter. Their winning matters. Who we are as elbows and knees and internal organs doesn't matter, except in the health of the body and the work of the Spirit who unites us to do the work of the ministry, to rescue those of us who are faltering, and save those who are lost in their sins. They matter, therefore our unity matters. For the Spirit is calling them to "come on down” and be “the next contestant” in a kingdom which has fantastic prizes. The best of which is eternal life bought in the blood of Jesus Christ.

“While there is a variety of gifts, there is only one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4, Remedy)

“No disunity or competition exists in the body, but all the parts are equally concerned for the health of the others.” (1 Corinthians 12:25, Remedy)

Signature and emblem from Wikimedia Commons
Frame image by Thobar BIGS Design from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com