Working on Scaffolding (in Unity)

A few years ago we watched as the old education building that was attached to the church was torn down. After the building was removed a group of volunteers from the church met together and closed in the end of the building that remained. It was a flat side with a high roof and we covered it with wood and metal siding. We had a couple of experienced carpenters but the rest of us knew how to handle screws and nails where they told us to put them and hand stuff to the men who knew what they were doing.

I was most fascinated by the carpenters. I like to work with wood in my shop making furniture and shelves but this was a whole different level of skill. One carpenter was on the scaffolding measuring and calling out numbers while another carpenter on the ground cut pieces according to those numbers. I never saw them need to recut any pieces because the measuring and cutting was always precise. The rest of us were either in the middle handing pieces up or on the scaffolding screwing in the extra screws needed to finish each piece.

We worked like a team. We all knew what needed to be done and when we finished one task we quickly moved on to the next. There was no competition or jealousy.  When one needed help we helped without asking or needing to be asked. We discovered the true meaning of unity.

Paul describes unity by comparing the body of Christ to our own bodies. He said, “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5 HCSB)

We are made up of many different parts that work together and are dependent on each other with one brain, the mind of Christ. When one part hurts the whole body hurts. When one part celebrates, (like the sense of tasting comfort food), the whole body feels good.

It took all of us to close in the wall. This is the way it should be in the church. The skilled and unskilled, one gift or gifted with many, all are important. It takes all of us working together in love and support to fulfill the Great Commission.

Bro. Robin