"Symbiosis"
By Elaine Cook Carr
TODAY’S TREASURE
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts,[yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. - 1 Corinthians 12:14-26
Down here in the Deep South, we are surrounded by an incredible amount of natural beauty. I cannot begin to list all the lovely things that grow here but we have multiple varieties of trees and shrubs and beautiful moss hangs from the few oaks trees that remain after the last devastating category-five hurricane that struck here in 2018.
Recently I have noticed many lichens growing in the cracks and crevices in the woods we often explore (spoiler alert-science lesson ahead). If you don't know what they are, lichens are gray-green organisms that grow almost barnacle-like on rocks, trees, stumps, and on the ground in places where the sun rarely shines directly. For most of my life, I believed them to be a type of mushroom (fungus) or moss. I wasn't completely wrong, but I was far from being exactly right. Lichens are quite a complex life form that consists of a symbiotic partnership, or close relationship, of two separate organisms, a fungus, and an alga.
In addition to being strangely pretty, these living organisms serve several purposes. The primary purpose is to provide a mode of survival in harsh environments where algae cannot normally survive. Since the fungus can protect the algae, these normally water-requiring organisms can live in dry, hot places without dying. The fungus cannot photosynthesize so it cannot create food on its own from sunlight, but the algae can. This relationship also makes lichens capable of removing carbon dioxide from the air and converting it into oxygen, which we all need to survive. Lastly, lichens have the ability to absorb pollutants from the air. Of course, none of this is by accident - it is all by design, God’s design. These two organisms, combined into one, cannot survive, one without the other. This example from nature clearly reminds us that God has also designed his people to be relational and symbiotic. As believers, we are all a part of one body, the church, and together we are an amazing organism.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
The COVID pandemic has served to show us that WE are the church - not a building or a place. We must rely on one another and work together for the sake of the kingdom. We have learned that we can grow and flourish even in the harshest of circumstances! We have learned that others have been our hands when we could not lift our own. We have learned to be feet and legs for those who have been unable to stand. We have been mighty warriors banded in prayer for the sick, the suffering, the dying, and those in pain from loss.
May we always be reminded of this incredible oneness in Christ: that we have experienced:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. - I Corinthians 12:14-26
Together, as we bear one another's burdens, we are stronger than we could ever be as individuals. How beautiful is the body of Christ!
PRAYER
Lord, may we always be thankful for our brothers and sisters in the Lord. May we be willing to work together for the sake of the kingdom. We thank You, Lord, for close relationships that bind us together in Christ and that we are knit into one body, one mind, and one spirit. Bless us that we might do Your bidding.
More free resources for help hope & healing:
Treasures of Encouragement, Women Helping Women
By Sharon W. Betters
Treasuresofencouragement.org Learn how God sends treasures of encouragement to help turn hearts toward Jesus and how the beauty, privilege and power of biblical encouragement is a means to invite others to trust the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness in the mundane moments and especially in the broken places of life. Free supplemental resources.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elaine Cook Carr is a 38-year veteran educator, now retired, and has been married to a wonderful man for almost 48 years. He is also now retired from nearly 40 years of full-time pastoral ministry. In addition to teaching children with special needs, I have, over the years, been deeply involved in both women's and children's ministries in multiple capacities. We are parents to two adult children (a pastor and an RN) and have four precious grandchildren ranging in age from 15 to 5.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Thursday, 17 August 2023.
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