Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. Psalm 133:1-2
Psalm 133 tells us that the unity of the brethren is like oil flowing on the Aaron’s head, his beard, and down to the edge of his garments. This oil makes us softer. Others’ personalities don’t become sandpaper that rub against us. The offenses fall off faster because the anointing of unity causes issues not to stay and fester in our hearts.
God calls unity among the brethren good and pleasant. It’s interesting that Aaron who was a priest is used as the analogy to the concept of unity. The Bible calls each of us “Royal Priesthood”. There is an anointing that comes upon us by being in unity with our brethren!
The secular world in some cases does a great job with unity. Every employee in a company works for the benefit of their company’s success. Sports teams come together and play united. Some players may even have differences or disagreements among themselves, but when it comes to winning, everyone does their part to help the team succeed. Who plays the best game or who will get the credit is not their primary focus or goal. The main goal is the success of the team regardless of who will be the star of the day.
Are we willing to let God break through our individuality and bring true unity in the body of Christ? Some think that we only need to be united with the head. That’s is not true. Our unity starts there, but it doesn’t end there. We still have to do our part to put aside our personal preferences and prejudices, so we can walk in unity with our brothers and sisters within the body. When we are willing to do that, then the anointing of God will be upon the body. I believe, when we come to greater unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will become more effective in reaching the lost because we have practiced accepting people who are different from us.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-13
God has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to also build up the body of Christ in order to reach the unity of the faith. According to this scripture, the unity of the faith is just as important as equipping the saints. If we are only focused on equipping the saints, we will develop an individualist mentality about ministry. However, we cannot forget that we are also called to be built up corporately until we reach the true unity of the faith.
It’s possible that in our individualist American mentality, it is easier for us to take on the assignment of being equipped for the work of ministry rather than work on maturing through unity. These scriptures are a call to those operating in five fold ministry gifts as well as leaders and church members. Every one of us needs to seek God’s wisdom to be part of the solution to unity of the body.
Lord, we need your supernatural wisdom and revelation to see the body united. You came to tear down the walls of hostility between people. Tear down the walls of prejudice, individualism, competition, & indifference that keep us at a distance from others. Help us to mature in this area. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.