«Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies» (1 Corinthians 12:4, 5).
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler were two brothers who lived at the beginning of the twentieth century. Their father, who was a well-known, skillful professional shoemaker, had a large factory where both brothers worked according to their special talents: Adolf was a designer, and Rudolf was an excellent business manager.
However, rivalry developed between the brothers, and they became fierce enemies, so much so that their little city in Baveria, besides being divided by a river, became divided by loyalty to one brother or the other. Adolf, whose nickname was Adi, eventually founded a company by the name of Adidas, while Rudolf, whose nickname was Puma, developed a company by that name. Each of them paid athletes to represent them and increase their fame and their sales at different soccer and Olympic events.
The Dassler brothers died without ever reconciling, and continued with the same bitter hatred; yet today both their quality products.
Adolf bragged that he made better shoes. Rudolf was proud of his ability to market his products. They both became large companies, but they never combined their efforts. We will never know what they might have accomplished if they had worked together.
Many times, as church members we have the same type of problem. We have a common goal, but instead of joining efforts and combining talents, we find different ways to compete, to attack each other, and to defend ourselves. We create obstacles for the advance of the work We look for people who will side with us, and the rivalry increases. Many people leave this world without becoming reconciled with their brethren. Instead of being known for our brotherhood, sometimes we are only know for the different prohibitions that we represent with our different groups, and for the stubbornness with which we adhere to them.
God calls us today to work together in union as value the different abilities we each have, and to not but as a necessary part of a whole.
«God has lent men talents—an intellect to originate, a heart to be the place of His throne, affection to flow out in blessings to others, a conscience to convict of sin. Each one has received something from the Master, and each one is to do his part in supplying the needs of God’s work.” (Counsels on Stewardship, ch. 24, p. 114).
What great «factory» could you build today?
