What lessons on unity can we learn from 1 Corinthians 11:21? The Verse in Focus 1 Corinthians 11:21: “For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.” Seeing the Problem in Corinth • The church gathered for what should have been a unifying celebration of the Lord’s Supper. • Wealthier believers brought plenty of food and began eating immediately. • Poorer believers arrived later (often after work) and found little or nothing left. • The result: physical hunger for some, excess for others—an open wound in the body of Christ. What Disunity Looks Like • Self-centered timing (“each of you goes ahead”). • Withholding resources instead of sharing. • Publicly visible inequality that shames the less fortunate. • A spirit of indulgence (“another gets drunk”) rather than reverence. Key Lessons on Unity • Unity requires intentional waiting for one another. (1 Corinthians 11:33 “So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.”) • Equality in Christ means practical equality at the table. (Galatians 3:28; James 2:1-4) • Love is shown by considering another’s need above personal comfort. (Philippians 2:3-4) • The Lord’s Supper proclaims one body; to divide at the meal contradicts the message. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) • Excess at the expense of another’s lack is sinful, not neutral. (1 John 3:17) Supporting Scriptures That Echo the Lesson • Acts 2:44-46—believers shared “all things in common,” eating “with gladness and sincerity of heart.” • Romans 14:19—“So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” • Ephesians 4:1-3—“Walk in a manner worthy…bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.” • Galatians 5:13—“Serve one another in love.” Practical Steps for Today 1. Plan gatherings with everyone’s schedule and needs in mind; no one gets the leftovers. 2. Make shared meals truly shared—prepare extra, invite freely, serve the least first. 3. Address hidden economic gaps: grocery gift cards, discreet benevolence, “pay-it-forward” meals. 4. Cultivate a habit of waiting—allow the slower, the elderly, the parents with little ones to be seated first. 5. Center every meal around Christ: read a brief Scripture, acknowledge His body and blood, and let that awareness shape attitudes. 6. Guard against indulgence; keep fellowship joyful yet reverent. Why It Matters Disunity at the table distorts the gospel message we proclaim. By choosing selfless sharing, patient waiting, and conscious equality, believers embody the oneness purchased by Christ’s broken body and shed blood. |
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