The key of Body ministry is found in I Corinthians: That there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. I Corinthians 12:25–27. This passage deals with the deep personal concern and care that true believers must have for one another. The phrase, “To Whom It May Concern,” is frequently used in the introduction of certain business letters and is usually a cold business phrase. But in Christ it is far different. His people must sense deeply the concern they are to have for one another. A pastor may have several hundred people in his congregation, but he can build up a capacity to know who is in a service and who is missing if he has a concern for the people.
Concern is an expression of love; but more than that, it is also an expression of faith. You become concerned because you are believing. That is very different from anxiety. Anxiety is an emotion that is sometimes based upon unbelief or doubt. Concern should never embrace anxiety. Anxiety can be an expression of unbelief, but concern should be an expression of love, an expression of faith, and also an expression of the hope you have for another individual.
Some New Testament Scriptures picture the concern we are to have for one another. A number of instances in the New Testament show the apostolic concern for the Body of Christ. When Paul spoke about all the things he had been through—the beatings, the scourgings, imprisonments and shipwrecks—he was very careful to include, “And besides all of this, the daily care of the churches rests upon me” (II Corinthians 11:28). He was deeply concerned for them. He was constantly speaking with a deep tenderness about his concern for the people.
Travel and communication in Paul’s day was nothing like it is now. Today people travel distances that would have staggered the imagination of the early New Testament Church. That area was not as large as we might think. The area in which Christ ministered was within one hundred miles of Bethlehem. Jerusalem was not too far from Rome, and yet it required a long period of time, almost a year, for people to travel there. It was not such a large area, yet the care of the churches was a fantastic burden resting upon Paul.
The care of the churches is no less a burden today, because God is raising up new end-time New Testament churches all the time. The care of the churches will be greatly expanded as they extend to the far countries of the world—reaching into areas and distances in travel that would have staggered the New Testament Church world. All of this we are going to see in these days of the gospel of the Kingdom. For the first time, it will be possible for the gospel of the Kingdom to actually reach the ends of the earth, and churches will be established within a short period of time. This could not have been possible with the modes of travel in generations past.
This end-time walk with God will reach the whole world because there is an unfeigned care and concern in the hearts of all the people.
Many times after the people have given and given, they open their hearts to give again when a brother’s need is made known.
We have brothers ready to drive across the country without a credit card or any money, traveling strictly by faith, never saying a word about thier need. Many of the brothers are truly living a sacrificial life. Never lose that deep concern—keep that concern for one another. The Body keeps looking out for one another as the Holy Spirit prompts them in their concern.
The book of Esther tells how the Jews were delivered from the attempt to assassinate all of them. After Esther won the beauty contest conducted among girls of 127 countries, she was chosen to be the new queen. She had gone through the days of preparation: six months of myrrh, then six months of sweet spices. While the story is deeply romantic, it has another aspect to which we can relate with all our hearts. Read the King James version for the true impact of the story concerning Mordecai in the second chapter. It will tear your heart to see that little Jewish man walking up and down in front of the palace, waiting for some news of Esther. Whenever someone came out of the palace, he wanted to know how Esther fared. His concern never stopped. He was busy with many duties, but by day and by night he could be seen walking up and down in front of the palace, wondering how it was with his little niece whom he loved very much. We also feel that concern for one another in our hearts. Whenever people are missing from the services, we become concerned for them, wondering where they are; and that concern reaches out to them.
These are troubled times; but it seems as if the more difficult the days, the more the brethren are welded together in love, the more concern they have for each other, and the more tender they are in their concern for one another. What deep concern we are to have for one another! Some do not realize that other people love them and are concerned for them. It is not always expressed so that it comes through loud and clear, but it is there. The people of the Lord have a real concern one for another.
Philippians 1:1–8 shows us Paul’s concern. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. What a tender, deep concern.
From the second chapter we read, I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming shortly. But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your apostle and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly in order that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me. Philippians 2:24–30. Notice the tender, mutual action and reaction of love! It kept flowing back and forth. They were concerned about Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus was concerned about their concern for him. Paul was concerned about Epaphroditus. Paul was concerned about the church’s concern for Epaphroditus. They certainly were not self-seekers. They were doing everything they could to please the Lord.
Then in Philippians 4:1 we read, Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. Can you feel that concern? One of the most important instructions relating to the future of the Body of Christ, and especially to the future of every individual in it, is to show your concern for one another more. Do not let the love in your heart for one another be passive. Do not let it be inactive. You can show your concern and your love for one another in a thousand little ways. Just do it.
When children are little, they need affection, a little love, a small amount of feeding, and plenty of sleep. It does not take much to fill a little stomach, but as a child grows he eats more. His capacity to eat is increased to a staggering amount when he reaches the age of fifteen or sixteen. Likewise, as we grow spiritually, our spiritual capacity and hunger grows, and there is an enlargement of the spiritual heart. We read about this in II Corinthians 7:2a: Make room for us in your hearts. Notice also chapter 6:11–13: Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide (the King James version says, “Our heart is enlarged”). You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also. Paul was saying in effect, “You must enlarge your capacity for love.”
When a person first comes into a walk with God, a handshake and a smile are enough; but as he grows, he develops a hunger for the love and the fellowship of the brethren. It becomes his life, and he needs that love more than ever before. Also when he first begins to walk with God, he usually has a number of other interests in life. Then those interests seem to change, and he is less interested in the things of the world and other pursuits. He is more interested in coming to the house of the Lord. Many of the people do not hurry away after the service is over; they stay there praying, loving, and blessing one another because they are concerned. Some could do the same amount of praying at home on their knees and find the answers just as easily, but they need the ministry of the elders and the shepherds over them. Little lambs sometimes need just a little pat on the head by the shepherd, saying, “That’s fine. I bless you.” It is not that they could not take care of their own problems most of the time, but they have a need to be loved, and they also need to enlarge their hearts to love those around them. Love those who are over you in the Lord. Your love should be expressed in that deep concern for each other.
The living Word in its continuity, word after word and message after message, is the underlying manifestation of love in the Body that makes the difference and brings the changes and the growth. In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith which works by love (Galatians 5:6). Open your heart and show concern for one another. You may feel it, but you must show it. Even if you are embarrassed, learn how to go up to a person and say, “I love you. I am concerned for you.” But do not say it as if you suspect that something is wrong. Learn to show genuine concern and interest in your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
I Thessalonians 2:7–11 continues this thought beautifully: But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children. Tender loving concern can draw a ready response from people, especially from children. Be concerned to take the time to love and bless the children. You never know how much you minister to people by expressing your love and concern.
The pastor always appreciates the tender ministry and loving concern for himself and his family when shown by the Body during the testings and the wilderness experiences. In their concern, the people look for ways to serve him in times when he gives above and beyond his strength in serving the Body. He is concerned for the flock and for the brethren in the same way that some mothers are when their children leave for kindergarten for the first time, knowing that they must walk by themselves.
Sometimes ministries could be helped more, but they would be harmed if they were. They must learn to do many things on their own. There are battles they must fight. There is no way to eliminate the individual, personal experience of walking with God. It is a very personal matter. No one can walk with God for you. You must have your own walk with the Lord. No one can fulfill your ministry for you. You alone must fulfill it. But while you must fulfill that ministry yourself (and you may even go through your lions’ den, your fiery furnace, and all manner of testings), it is good to know that there are others who are really concerned for you. They carry a burden that troubles their sleep and causes them to pray for you. In the final analysis, this is Body ministry, but the individuals are finding that they have never had such a personal walk with God as they have now. They help each other, and they are very deeply concerned for each other.
Continuing with verses 17–20, we read, But we, brethren, having been bereft of you (the people had been torn away from him physically for a time) for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan thwarted us. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and our joy.
The secret of financial support and success in the church is found through the presence of the Lord in the hearts of people who are really concerned for each other. The real treasure, the true gold of the Kingdom is the love for one another. There will be days when money cannot buy anything, days in which the Body may share some real hardships. Then the precious treasure will be that which thieves will not be able to steal or destroy, for it will be the deep love God has put in the people’s hearts for each other. Show it. Tell each other, “I love you; how is it with you?” Be concerned. Take the time to show concern for your parents. Phone them and let them know you love them. Sometimes a person needs to pour out his heart to someone who is concerned and cares.
Be burdened that this love grow. The early Church must have had it in an unbelievable way. I Peter 1:22b says: Fervently love one another from the heart. Be concerned for all the people who are being tested, for those who are wondering if some strange thing has happened to them. They may not understand why the dealings and the chastenings of the Lord are so devastating, but do not fail to love them. They cannot be pulled out of the trials and testings, for they must go through them. But those testings will be easier to endure if they know that people are really concerned about them and they show that concern. When a person is going through testings, he is grateful that God alerts people to his need, people who let him know that they are concerned and are praying for him.
Pray for the new people who are beginning to walk with God. Remember the difficult times you had? Although you were intrigued, still you did not know how you could ever walk with God. Pray for those who are missing service after service. You do not know what they may be going through. Pray for those who are sick. Pray especially for the rebellious ones and those who are withdrawing in their spirits. Start praying for those whose faces you have never seen, people behind Babylon’s walls who do not know what to do. Some are down in South Africa, some in Japan, some in the Philippines, many of them in Canada, and many in the United States. Pray and believe for these people whose hearts are reaching out to the Lord. Show your concern and love them.
Reaching others for the end-time walk with God will never be based upon the excellence of arguments and the doctrines you can present. Who wants to embrace a doctrine of going through tribulation when he can go to another church and hear about the rapture. No one wants to embrace a doctrine of a wilderness experience and the chastenings and the dealings of God when he can go elsewhere and have a theatrical type of evangelism—with no cross experience and no real price to pay. When a person comes into a walk with God, he begins with the tithe and ends with empty pockets because he becomes motivated to total discipleship. Who wants to become involved with that when he can go to another church and once a year make a little pledge? This way of walking must come by a revelation of the Lord. In it the people love Him, and they come to love one another. The world is not won by doctrines. This teaching does not appeal to the carnal mind or even to many religious minds, but people will be won as you show them real concern and real love. It is possible because He cares for you.
One more Scripture fits in with our caring for each other: Song of Solomon 8:8, 9, “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we shall build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we shall barricade her with planks of cedar.” Much of the Song of Solomon is too descriptive for the Western mind. It is a rather erotic poem, a beautiful parable with very high spiritual qualities for us.
The Song of Solomon speaks about a little sister. According to an old system of arranging marriages, she is at an age when she will be spoken for. She may be just a little girl, not yet mature, but the necessary steps must be taken for the time when she will be spoken for. She has no breasts. She is not ready to enter into maturity and take the responsibility to be fruitful and care for another life. What shall we do for her? If she is a wall, we will put up a beautiful battlement of silver, and if she is a door, we will barricade her with planks of cedar. This means that this beautiful girl will not succumb to temptation. Her life will not be ruined by seduction before she is capable of making an honest, realistic evaluation of what she is going to do with her life and whom she will marry. So if she is a wall, if she has defenses, we will strengthen her with beautiful battlements of silver. But suppose she is a door, and there is access to her life. Suppose she is naive and does not have the resistance within her spirit. What shall we do for her then? With planks of cedar we will barricade the door. We will make sure no one gets through the door, because we will move in and help her. This is a picture of pure Body ministry.
The same carefulness that is described in the Song of Solomon for the little sister ought to be exercised within the Body. Strengthen that which has defenses, but where there is an openness and a weakness, let the love of God help the Body to put up planks of cedar and wall it off so that no one will get through. Then the devil will not take advantage because of some weakness or openness in a brother. Let us do this because we are concerned. Let us have that expression of love and faith for our brothers and sisters.
In our walk with God, the doctrine of gifts is not stressed, but love is stressed a great deal. We must follow after love. We must desire spiritual gifts, but the gifts are never to be separated from compassion. The true ministry never becomes a mechanical working of the supernatural. It is the deep expression of God’s love flowing through us to one another. The only thing that avails is that faith which works by love. You who are mothers probably take good care of your children. You wash their clothes, keep them clean, try to protect them from disease, watch over them, and see that they are fed properly and given their vitamins. But do you give them the extra little bit of love? That is what they remember. Have you told them lately how much you love them? You who have parents—have you taken much from their hands, and do you in turn minister to them? What about your brothers and sisters in the house of God, and the little babes who are beginning to serve the Lord—are you concerned to give them ministry, and with it the tender love and care?
The key of Body ministry is in having the same care for one another. It must be there. Open your heart and enter into it with more than just a resolution; it must be a dedication! Be one who is really concerned to show love to your brother and sister. Let there never be a person who walks into the church without your showing concern and becoming involved in loving him.