Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 12
God has designed the parts of the human body differently from each other, because they all carry out different tasks. We do not expect our hands to do what our feet do; our eyes cannot do what our ears do. However, no part of the body operates for its own benefit; all the parts work together for the benefit of the whole body.
That is how God wants Christians to live, too. God has brought together people from different nations (Ephesians 3:6), and they all have different skills and personal qualities. God has also given them all the Holy Spirit (8:9); but the Holy Spirit works in them in many different ways (1 Corinthians 12:28-31)
Therefore, Christians should never be selfish. In other words, they must not use what God has given them solely for their own benefit, or to increase their own importance. Nor should Christians refuse to meet with other Christians (Hebrews 10:25). God has placed them together because they need each other.
Instead, Christians should be eager to help each other, by their prayers, their words and their actions. They should care about each other, and by their kindness they should show their love for each other (John 13:34-35). The greatest among them should be ready to serve the least important of them (Mark 10:43-44).
Paul teaches the same lesson in more detail in 1 Corinthians 12:14-27. Here in Romans 12:4-5, he repeats the same word-picture more briefly. This was not just a lesson for the church at Corinth, which had many problems. Rome’s Christians, and the Christians in every church, needed to learn this lesson too.
Next part: The ways that God works through his people (Romans 12:6)
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