The body is one—the members are many, but together they must work if success is achieved. Paul said, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Then, after Paul discusses the relationship of the different parts of the body and how they should work together in harmony, he says, “That there should be no schisms in the body; but that all the members should have the same care one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25). All the members of the body of Christ should have the same care for one another.
     We are told there are about one hundred fifty pieces in the average watch, and if one piece of the watch is out of harmony, the watch will not function properly. If one of the pieces in the watch gets dirty, the watch will not keep correct time. This is true of the church. One rusty member in the church can cause much friction. One unclean member in the church can slow down and impede the progress of the people of God. The watch may be sent to the jeweler to be cleaned, but it takes the blood of Christ to cleanse the church. No one would think about trying to drive an automobile if the driving gear propelled one wheel forward and the other one backward. Such a car would have no market value, and would be a total nuisance to its owner.
     Without the right care of one for another in a congregation, there will be confusion. In Genesis 11, we read about the confusion at the tower of Babel. When there was a confusion in tongues, there was a confusion in their work, which thus halted the erection of the tower of Babel. In a congregation where there is confusion over the leadership and what is being taught, the brethren will soon be “scattered abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:1-9). The kingdom of Israel was getting along very well until Jeroboam and Rehoboam got into an argument over who was the head man (1 Kings 12). Their fuss over leadership divided Israel, never to be united again. A lack of cooperation on the part of Barnabas caused him to be separated from the great apostle Paul for a big part of his life (Acts 15:38).
     The church today sorely needs cooperation between individuals. The division between Paul and Barnabas did not disrupt the church, but it did separate two good men. The contention between Paul and Barnabas was so sharp “that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39). This sharp contention undoubtedly had its repercussions among the people with whom they were associated. It is not the desire of this scribe to try to justify either Paul or Barnabas in their argument. The fact is, there was a lack of cooperation between these individuals. We, as preachers of the gospel, should learn to work with each other and help each other so the cause of Christ may prosper.
     There is a great need for cooperation among congregations. Paul said, “I came to bring alms to my nation” (Acts 24:17). Relief for the poor saints was sent to Jerusalem (Acts 11:27). Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the church in Antioch on a great missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3). When they had finished their tour, they reported to the congregation that sent them out. It is an evident fact that other congregations contributed to the support of Paul and Barnabas. Macedonia helped in this work (2 Corinthians 9:2). The church at Philippi helped in this work (Philippians 2).
     We as Christian people should work together with God. We should stand together as individuals and cooperate as congregations in helping to spread the gospel over all the world.
     Our   greatest  need  of  cooperation is with God. Paul said, “I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.” Paul also said, “Without him, I can do nothing.” There are some conditions under which God will not work with us. He will not work with us when we oppose him. The life of Nebuchadnezzar is an apt illustration of this statement. See Daniel 2. Jehovah will not cooperate with us when we are polluted with sin. The sin of Achan is an evident fact that God will turn his back on people when their lives are sinful. See Joshua 7. Jehovah will not cooperate with us when we reject his will and try to do as we please. Nadab and Abihu turned from the law of God and offered strange fire and Jehovah destroyed them (Leviticus 10:1-2). God works with us when we are in harmony with him. Why was Noah able to build an ark to sail upon an ocean that had no shore in such a distant age? God is the answer. Why was David able to walk out in the valley and kill the giant who struck fear into the hearts of Israel? God is the answer. Why was Gideon able to win such a great battle with only three hundred soldiers? God is the answer. Why was Sennacherib destroyed when he came down to fight against Israel? God is the answer. Space would fail me if I should tell “of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32).
     If we are to be successful in working together as congregations and individuals, we must first learn to work with him who for us died.—Gospel Advocate, Vol. 127, No. 27, July 2, 1964