SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 3
BIBLE VERSES:
“The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9)
“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13)
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20)
ON DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH (vs. 1-23)
Paul addressed the Corinthian believers as mere infants in Christ because they were still drinking milk, not taking solid food. They were spiritually immature as they divided themselves in groups of different leaders.
Everyone is doing God’s work. Some planted, others watered and others harvested. There must be no competition nor comparison, for each is God’s fellow workers who will be rewarded according to his own labor. It is God who made things grow.
A builder must be careful on how he lays his foundation. Likewise, the local church must be careful on the materials that are being ministered. When he substitutes man’s wisdom for God’s Word, he is using perishable materials which will be burned up and he will suffer loss. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (v. 19)
The Corinthian believers boasts about men because they glorified human teachers and human wisdom. They robbed God of the glory that belonged to Him. The is why God gave this command: “No more boasting about men” (v. 21)
THOUGHTS:
- Paul planted the seed of Good News while Apollos watered the seed. The believers in Corinth split into faction pledging loyalty to different teachers. They did not realized that it is Christ who make Christians grow. We shall respect our leaders but we should never compare or create barriers and set them as substitutes for Christ.
- There are many workers in the church doing different works. Some plant the seeds. Other water them and only God can give the harvest. The workers are to perform their roles based on their gifts and abilities without expecting praise from men. Instead seek approval from God. Do not compare pastors, evangelists or Bible teachers. Instead, be united as one in Christ.
- The local church is compared to a building in a temple. The pastor is the builder with the responsibility of using the best material. The wise builder uses lasting quality materials – gold, silver, jewels – that can withstand time. He uses the Word and depend on the Holy Spirit to make his work lasting. The worldly builder uses worldly materials – wood, hay, straw – which cannot survive with the testing of fire, and he will suffer loss. Are you building your life on the real foundation of Jesus Christ or are your building on a faulty foundation of wealth, security, success or fame?
- Remember that we are God’s temple and God’s temple is sacred. Anyone who destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. (v. 16-17)
- Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to trust in men nor glory in men. All blessings come from God, so that Christians are not to glory his pastor but to respect and obey him as he obeys the Lord. Therefor, we should give all the glory to God alone.