1 Corinthians 12:5-6 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.… These words suggest practical reflections as to — I. THE VAST VARIETY OF CLASSES FOR WHOM CHRISTIAN WORK IS CARRIED ON. Such work is work — 1. For all varieties of need. (1) Bodily. The hospital; the sanitary enterprise of any form is included. (2) Mental. All true educational work, not least of all when it aims at fixing a ladder that shall rise from the gutter to the university, is included. (3) Moral. Every crusade for temperance and chastity is included. (4) Spiritual. The proclamation, in its manifold fulness, of the gospel that converts, comforts, and edifies is included. (5) National. Right endeavour in the cause of peace, of land reform, etc., is included. 2. For the needs of people of all ages — the child, the youth, the adult, the aged. 3. For the needs of people of all places. The prediction as to the usefulness of the men of the early Church (Acts 1:8) seems to hint at what we call (1) City missions — "witnesses for Me in Jerusalem." (2) Home missions — "and in all Judaea." (3) Colonial missions — "and in Samaria." (4) Foreign missions — "and unto the uttermost part of the earth." II. THE VAST VARIETY OF MEANS BY WHICH CHRISTIAN WORK IS CARRIED ON. There are methods in which the individual is a potent force, and others in which the elaborate machinery fulfils a useful function. There are spheres for highest culture, and others for simplest speech, domains for the pen and for the tongue. True Christian enterprise is hydra-handed. It touches the unnumbered strings on the great harp of humanity, sometimes gently, as with the delicacy of woman's fingers, and sometimes mightily, as with the smiting of a seraph's hand. III. THE ONE MOTIVE SPIRIT UNDER WHOSE INFLUENCE CHRISTIAN WORK IS CARRIED ON. In all and through all who are true to Christ there is one impelling motive, i.e., love to Him. This is the great unifying force at the central heart of all Christly men. (U.R. Thomas.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. |
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