Everyone likes to do what is easy and comfortable. It was the same at Corinth. The church was in an uproar. There was division primarily over whose teachings the group was going to follow. Paul was furious. He spent a great deal of time preparing the church at Corinth to be a leader in the growth of Christianity for gentiles and for that part of the world. Still, after much time, they were spiritually–still exactly where they started. They were quarreling, they were not interested in the deep faith that comes through following Christ closely. They were still worried about themselves and what the church would do for them.
Paul knew that they needed to be focused on how to serve, not whether they were being served adequately. The church was, for their purposes, the preparation place for them to minister to others. It was not a club, nor was it a place to be entertained. These people needed to focus on how they were to give back–not on who was the main teacher and what nuggets of doctrine they should cling to. That selfish attitude about church and ministry had stunted the church’s development and the spread of faith across the area.
In modern churches, Christians still struggle with whose teaching is best, what worship style is best, who has the best kid’s programming…and the list goes on. What the body of Christ should be asking is where does God want me, and how can God use me in the church. We need to support a church that honors God and His teaching, but, our attitude should focus on His leading and our serving–not on whether or not we will be adequately entertained; and whether our church provides all the bells and whistles we require.
In Christ, we grow to become selfless servants on a mission to lead others to faith in Christ. Any other purpose is useless. The awesome promise our Lord, Himself gave us was simply this, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you!” Matthew 6:33. Let’s be ministers in the church, not spiritual babies!
God Bless You
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly-mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
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