CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIPColossians 4:5-18
Several parts of the body tried to determine who would be boss: The brain said, "Since I already coordinate every function of the body I am the logical choice to be boss." The heart objected, saying, "Without my pumping blood throughout the body, none would be able to function, so I should be the boss." The eyes said, "Without us the body would not know where it was going. We should be the boss." The mouth said, "I speak for the body. I should be boss."
One by one, each member of the body gave his reason as to why he should
be the boss. Finally the neck spoke up and said that he should be the boss.
"You!" said the brain. "Why you? You don't do anything to
begin with."
"Yeah," said the heart. "We wouldn't even miss you if you
weren't here." This made the neck very mad, and he became tense. His
muscles knotted up, AND he began to exert excruciating pain. So intense
was the pain, that the brain couldn't even think. The eyes became blurry,
AND the heart had to work so hard that it became tired AND began to skip
a beat every now AND then. After a week of this, all the parts of the body
agreed that the neck could be boss.
The moral of the story? "You don't have to be a brain, or have a heart to be boss; all you have to do is be a pain in the neck."
Churches have struggled down through the centuries on how Christians should relate to one another. Some have tried to look at the church as a corporation, with a CEO or boss, and a hierarchy of people below him. But the Bible pictures our relationship more like a partnership than a corporation.
Instead of a corporate ladder with the boss at the top and employees at the bottom, the church is more like a boat, with some at the oars, some at the rudder, and some navigating. Even though there are many different parts that make up the body of Christ, we find that if the church is to function efficiently, the members will form a partnership that will help them move forward regardless of their differences.
Col. 4:5-18 gives us a good picture of the diversity of the body of Christ.
1. WE HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS
During the times of the New Testament there was great dislike between Jews and Romans. They had little dealings with one another. Whenever they could, avoided using the same streets! Yet, we find here that those who had come into a relationship with Christ had shed their sinful prejudices And had learned to come into partnership with one another.
This group of people that Paul lists for us have very diverse backgrounds. There were Greeks And Jews. When Paul lists those who sent their greetings to the Colossians he lists 3 Jews And 3 Gentiles. The Jews included Aristarchus, Mark, And Jesus called Justus. The Gentiles were Epaphras, Luke, And Demas. There were free persons And slaves. Onesimus was the converted runaway slave we read about in Philemon. Paul says he is a "faithful And dear brother". Paul And Aristarchus were both incarcerated. The rest were free men. There were male and female. Paul emphasizes his greeting to the brothers at Laodecia "and to Nympha and the church in her house (vs.15)."
Because of their relationship to Christ these men And women were able to strike up a partnership where there had never been one before. No longer was there strife And division, All classes of society, All colors of people, All races, Both genders could come together. We become One united in the person of Jesus Christ.
Paul would write to the Galatians (3:28) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." And the church is enriched by the great variety of races, and cultures.
Thank God that we are all on equal ground. I praise the Lord that I can hug my black brother. I can sing with my Asian brother. I can listen to my European brothers preach the Word. I thank God that no matter where I go in this world, whether we have the same language or not--we can communicate to each other through the common bond we have in Jesus Christ.
We we are partners.
2. WE HAVE DIFFERING GIFTS
There are both public gifts and private gifts. Some preach from a pulpit. Some sweep the floors. Some are soloists. Some call on the sick. Some write Christian books. Some distribute tracts. There are many different gifts! These gifts are of equal importance and significance. It has been said that the man who holds the ladder at the bottom is as important as the man at the top. Everybody wants to be the man on the top. He wouldn't be there for very long with out the assistance from the man at the bottom.
Some people's gifts are more evident. They are not more important to the kingdom. Matthew 10:42 "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
All of our gifts are needed When Anwar Sadat, of Egypt, was assassinated, they provided a temporary burial place beside Egypt's Unknown Soldier. How interesting that Egypt's best-known soldier should be buried beside Egypt's Unknown Soldier. In the Kingdom of God there are many unknown soldiers. They march right beside the well-known soldiers. Each does their part. What they do is important.
Without their work the famous would not be famous. Without them, nothing would be accomplished.
Paul told Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12) "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young." Don't let anyone look down on you because of your gift. Whether your gift is public or private, known or unknown. Give everything you've got for the glory of God.
We need you And your giftedness.
3. WE HAVE DIFFERENT DUTIES
We express our giftedness through our duties in the kingdom. There are many jobs to do. There is much to be done. We have differing duties and responsibilities.
Several are listed here in our text. There is the duty of:
Communication Paul obviously was gifted in this way. Paul sent his friends to communicate to the Colossians And others. Some people are very gifted communicators. They teach, Preach Express themselves well. Bring glory to God through communication gifts.
Encouragement Paul sent Tychicus so he could "encourage" the Colossians "hearts". There are certain people that are better at encouraging than others. Thank God that in this church there are many who take it upon themselves to encourage me.
Illustration: Some interesting facts about sandhill cranes: These large birds, who fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time. Second, they choose leaders who can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation.
That's not a bad model for the church. We need leaders who can handle turbulence and who are aware that leadership ought to be shared. We need a church where we are all honking encouragement.
Comfort Paul says In verse.11 that his "fellow workers for the kingdom of God" had "proved a comfort" to him. There are some of you here today that are very gifted in this area. You can go to someone and put your arm around them and let them know that you care. That my friend, is ministry.
Prayer We are all called to pray. Some are especially gifted in this area. Paul said that Epaphras was always "wrestling in prayer" for the Colossians (v.12). Some of you are gifted in the area of prayer. I urge you to use your prayer as a weapon for building the Kingdom of God.
We have been focusing on our differences: Different backgrounds; different gifts; different duties.
4. WE HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE AND GOAL
We are all in the family of Christ.
I like that hymn "The Family of God"
"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God--I've been washed in
the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel
this sod, For I'm part of the family, the family of God."
No matter: where you have come from, what your background, what your blood line. If you have given your life to Christ you have been adopted into the biggest family in the world. When we come together to worship the Lord it is like a family reunion. We are a part of the same family. We have the same Father. We share the same brother. We belong to the family of God. Our goals are the same regardless of: our skin color, race, or social standing.
We are here to glorify Jesus Christ. We are here to build His kingdom.
We're in this together. Now we are not only in the same family: We are
all servants of Christ.
When I accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, I accepted him as my master. "Lord,
I am ready to go where you want me to go." "I'm ready to do what
you want me to do."
We are servants together.
With Christ as our Lord we are fighting on the same side. Both of us have dedicated ourselves to the Lord. We are moving in the same direction. No longer am I out for myself. We are both working for Christ. We are pulling together. We are partners. We are working to exalt the name of Jesus Christ.