Richard and Danny were two brothers who did not always get along when they got older. They had completely different temperaments.
“Who needs him, he’s of no use to anyone,” Richard was telling his friend Eric when the subject of Danny came up.
“That’s a pretty harsh thing to say about your brother,” Eric responded. Richard knew it was harsh, but could not help his feelings. He thought back when he and Danny were younger. Danny was younger by a year and a half, and was always the guy who could “fix anything”. Oh, how mom and dad bragged when Danny fixed the washing machine or the lawnmower or unclogged a drain in the kitchen. At first, Richard tried to learn to do what Danny did but it never worked out.
Finally, in high school, Richard found his gift and, like his own dad, it was the gift of speaking. He won competition after competition in speech, debate, and other forms of speech giving. He seemed to have a natural ability to talk to people, give speeches or just get people to see things his way or rally to his cause. It served him well as he moved into a teaching career whereas Danny built a very successful auto mechanics business around his skill.
But sadly, for all the success the brothers had, their dislike of each other kept growing and it drew them apart. Danny never understood that talking was a good skill and Richard thought that being able to tinker with machines or pipes or wires was a low person’s way of life. They fought about it endlessly until Danny moved out, but family gatherings were always tense except when they went to see Grandma. Everything stopped at Grandma’s house because she saw them as her sweet baby boys and for a while when they visited her, they were sweet children again, innocent, and always ready to play.
Eric left his friend Richard in his office thinking about his brother. Richard wondered if there was ever to be a way to make things better between them. He had been praying about it. He did not know that over at his garage, while fixing a car, Danny had been praying the same thing. Richard’s thoughts were broken by the phone ringing. He answered it. The sound of urgency in the voice was frightening.
“Richard, the Credit River has overflowed its banks and is flooding the town of Streetsville,” Eric informed him. Streetsville was not far from the large city where his family grew up. “The water is rising there and people are becoming trapped in their second floors. The Red Cross is going in to try to get people out.”
At first, Richard did not get too alarmed but then he remembered; Streetsville was where Grandma lived. He picked up the phone and called her but no answer. He knew she lived alone in that big house and probably could not get to the phone. The thought of her alone facing that terror was more than he could stand. Moving almost on instinct, Richard got moving. He organized a rescue mission for the town of Streetsville using his huge network of contacts at church, work, his clubs and his business contacts. Within hours, Richard had an army of men and machinery gathered in the parking lot of the church. They were ready to invade Streetsville and save those people.
“Folks,” he announced to the crowd of rescuers from his bullhorn, “we need to pray. My grandma is down there and you all have relatives there too. Let’s pray that God helps them until we can get there.” And then he bowed his head and led them in prayer.
“Richard we have another area to pray about.” Eric shouted out. “Lots of these boats are broken. We need mechanical help or getting all of us down there will be no good. We need someone who can fix anything.” Richard felt his face go hot with emotion because it was like God was telling him, “Get Danny.” He had no time to wallow in self-pity or resentment at Danny. He picked up his cell phone and called his brother’s number.
All he had to say to Danny was “Danny, it’s Richard, Grandma’s in danger. Get down here.” And he knew Danny would fly to the scene. And that is what happened. Danny brought his tools and workers and in no time, they had the boats in tiptop shape. Side by side, the brothers loaded the boats and together they got to Streetsville and got every citizen out. As the brothers sat side by side on the boat heading to grandma’s house they both suddenly knew why they were so different. Danny knew that he could have never gotten such a huge response and organized the rescue so beautifully. And Richard knew that Danny’s gift for fixing things was crucial to their success.
As they got grandma into the boat, she hugged them both and kissed them and then she said what they both were thinking. “God has given each of you boys a wonderful spiritual gift. Working together you are a powerful tool for Him.” They knew it was right because that is how God blesses the church. By giving everyone unique and wonderful gifts, we all can work together to do what God has for us to do. Separate we are incomplete but together we are powerful tools for God to use for good.
“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:14–27