1 Corinthians 3 -- A New Insight For Myself

Back on January 2nd, I read 1 Corinthians 3, and God so spoke to me, about what my Bible study once was, about what had changed and what caused those changes.  About how He intended it to be and what He'll be doing soon, and how I must shake off what has over the years adhered to me in order to get to where He wants me to be.  I was blown away.  I hadn't realized just how out of shape spiritually I'd become.  He gave me a training plan. I decided I needed to camp out in 1 Corinthians 3 for a while.  

The primary question my commentary found for this chapter was:  "How do we know when the pastor and church leaders are really doing their job?"  (I'm not by any means saying that I doubt they are.)

It then mentioned how Paul pointed out two different kinds of saved people:  mature and immature (carnal).  "The immature Christian lives for the things of the flesh and has little interest in the things of the Spirit."  Paul wasn't thinking about the recently-saved Christians.   These were Christians who should have graduated out of the basics.

One mark of maturity is diet, going from milk to meat.  In my commentary Wiersbe believes "milk" represents what Jesus did on earth (Bible stories), while "meat" represents what He is doing now in heaven.  And I think we should agree that what He's doing now is more relevant to us today.  Wiersbe calls it "living on Bible doctrine instead of Bible stories.

Another mark of spiritual maturity is practicing love and seeking to get along with others rather than disagreeing and fussing as young children do, it said.  An immature Christian put into a position of leadership can cause disaster.

Unity of purpose is vitally important to churches.  We are to all be part of the harvest.  It certainly wouldn't do to have someone ruining the harvest by cutting down the plants before they are ready.  My dad sure got onto us for chopping down a cotton plant accidentally while removing a large careless weed!

Diversity of ministry was also mentioned.  God uses those who plow the soil, those who sow the seed, those who water the seed, those who hoe the weeds, and those who harvest the crops.  We each have parts we have a natural love to do, and usually those parts are matched with our God-given abilities.

Finally, humility of spirit is mentioned.  For all our work, we cannot tell a seed when to sprout.  God does that.  He is the Lord of the harvest, not us, and we have to have humility.  He alone deserve the glory.

Father please remind me often of these things as I interact with those You've placed me beside in our church.  Help us all to work together for You.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford