Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
King James Version
9 Two are better than one;
because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall,
the one will lift up his fellow:
but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;
for he hath not another to help him up.
There is no perfect group.
There are workers.
And there are slackers.
And yet, each has a function in this life.
Proverbs 27:17
King James Version
17 Iron sharpeneth iron;
so a man sharpeneth the countenance
of his friend.
Were we a perfect group, we wouldn't need help.
The LORD JESUS wouldn't have gone to the CROSS.
We need all the help we can get from GOD.
JESUS prayed to GOD to have His HOLY SPIRIT help, and teach us.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
King James Version
12 For as the body is one,
and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body,
being many,
are one body:
so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member,
but many.
If we think success can only be attributed to one, we are wrong.
Whether worker, or slacker, we're all in it together.
Whether strong, or weak (physically, mentally, economically, or spiritually), we all play a vital role.
There can be no bullying in a group.
The strong must help the weak.
The believer must help the unbeliever.
We are all members of the BODY of CHRIST.
That's what we call "church".
It's not necessarily a physical enclosure, but the SPIRITUAL MEMBERSHIP in, and through JESUS.
1 Corinthians 12:27
King James Version
27 Now ye are the body of Christ,
and members in particular.
The idea is to care for one another.
To love one another.
To help each other up.
To be there for each other.
1 Corinthians 12:25
King James Version
25 That there should be no schism in the body;
but that the members should have the same care
one for another.
JESUS measures us, by how we treat others.
John 13:34
King James Version
34 A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love one another;
as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another.
No single person gets credit for anything.
Not one person must be forgotten.
No one must be marginalized.
ALL are members of CHRIST's body.
We are to be like JESUS, the PERFECT SHEPHERD.
Matthew 18:12
King James Version
12 How think ye?
if a man have an hundred sheep,
and one of them be gone astray,
doth he not leave the ninety and nine,
and goeth into the mountains,
and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Where is the fun, if one be left behind?
Where is the joy, if one is left forgotten?
Where is the festivity, if one is left unfed?
Our duty, as children of GOD, as believers in JESUS, as students of the HOLY SPIRIT, is to make sure we tend to each other.
Galatians 6:2
King James Version
2 Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfil the law of Christ.
ESPECIALLY those who cannot care for themselves.
Matthew 25:40
King James Version
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them,
Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me.
Together, we're all one team, one family, one loving group, one BODY of CHRIST, one CHURCH of GOD.
1 Timothy 3:15
King James Version
15 But if I tarry long,
that thou mayest know
how thou oughtest to behave thyself
in the house of God,
which is the church of the living God,
the pillar and ground of the truth.
When asked (and tempted) by a lawyer, what the "great commandment in the law" was, JESUS replied:
Matthew 22:37-40
King James Version
37 Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments
hang all the law
and the prophets.
Be born again, and be taught by SPIRIT.
Let us pay attention to the COMMANDMENTS of GOD.
Let us take to heart the simple GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.
Let us allow the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us everything about CHRIST, Who knows GOD's HEART.
Only then can we learn how to love, as the LORD JESUS did.
Only then can we look at the real needs of our brothers, and sisters.
We will be the first one to protect them, and not cause any harm.
We will refuse to put stumbling blocks before them.
In this ONE BIBLE CHAPTER, we can read all about what makes a team, and how a team survives.
Of course, all GLORY belong to GOD alone.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
King James Version
31 Whether therefore ye eat,
or drink,
or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence,
neither to the Jews,
nor to the Gentiles,
nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things,
not seeking mine own profit,
but the profit of many,
that they may be saved.
Working, as the BODY of CHRIST, we do things cheerfully, lovingly, and harmoniously. allowing each member to contribute.
Not in kind, but in heart.
Philippians 2:14-16
King James Version
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God,
without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life;
that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain,
neither laboured in vain.
For a team, a group, a family, or a church to survive, there must be no more boasting, bickering, or bullying.
There must only be CHRIST in our midst.
He who taught us this:
Mark 9:35-37
King James Version
35 And he sat down,
and called the twelve,
and saith unto them,
if any man desire to be first,
the same shall be last of all,
and servant of all.
36 And he took a child,
and set him in the midst of them:
and when he had taken him in his arms,
he said unto them,
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name,
receiveth me:
and whosoever shall receive me,
receiveth not me,
but him that sent me.
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