Romans 12 - we belong to each other

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (Romans 12:5)

so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (NLT)

We are all very familiar with the idea that we are one body in Christ. As long as we believe and are baptised in Jesus, we belong to the Church which is His body. The Holy Communion bread we partake every month also reminds us of the fact that we are one in Him.

However, have we considered the latter portion of this verse? We are individually members of one another.

It is not only that we are different parts making up one body and thus it would suffice that we each perform our individual duty without getting into each other's way.

The New Living Translation states it clearer, that we belong to each other.

What does this mean?

This means that you belong to me, and I belong to you.

It's like, I am a subset of You; and You are also a subset of Me.

It's a very special relationship.

But, have we considered this relationship in all the things that we do?

If so, then in every decision that we make, or in every thing that we do, we would first think about the consequence it will have on the other. We would think thrice before we do anything.

Is this pleasing to God?
Is this beneficial to me?
Am I hurting any members of my body?

We might even go to the extent of asking permission for doing things, because now we are not our own. We belong to Jesus, and we belong to one another. Perhaps we would not literally ask permission, but the spirit of doing so is there. If we know for sure that something will not benefit the other, we will not attempt to do it. We will never do anything to hurt a member of ourselves! For in the end, we are only hurting ourselves and all others in that body.

We would take good care of all our belongings, won't we? We would be upset to find something that belong to us missing or damaged. This is the same attitude we must have towards our brethren. If any one is sick or weak, we must take it upon ourselves to do something about it! We ought to be upset over it! Imagine, it is our leg that is sprained! Or, it is our ear that is infected!

Lord, help us to remember that we all belong to each other. Therefore do not let our actions and words hurt, but rather build each other up.