We All Need People
“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. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Insight
Corinth was a big city with a lot of diversity which is one of the reasons Paul purposefully went to Corinth to share the good news of Jesus. Paul spent a lot of time simply talking to people about Jesus and inviting them into the fullness that can only be found in Christ. Several people did choose to follow Jesus and started a church community of their own. As Paul continued on to share the gospel in other places though, he began to hear murmurs that the church in Corinth wasn’t doing very well. Paul decided to write the church a letter which is what 1 Corinthians is, a letter to the newly formed church in Corinth.
The church was facing division. Some people liked the way Paul taught while others liked how Peter, or another leader named Apollos taught. They were focusing on the teacher instead of Jesus. The church was becoming divided by people picking their favorite teacher. Groups were formed around that specific person. Then, they would ridicule others who followed a different teacher. Rather than encouraging and delighting in the joy of people learning about Jesus, they were tearing one another down and only seeing flaws. Paul reminds the people of Corinth that Peter, Apollos, and himself are mere servants. The Church is a community of people who follow Jesus, and the church of Corinth was not living in that way.
We all need people in our lives like Paul, people who will be direct and honest and remind us to focus our eyes on Jesus. Paul loved the people of Corinth, but he did not love their actions. Love doesn’t turn a blind eye and pretend things are fine. Love steps in and reminds others of the One that has authority over all things.
While Paul’s words may seem harsh when you first read them, I think they come from a deep and sincere place of longing for the people in Corinth to see and experience the freedom and fullness that only Jesus provides. If you read the entire letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul’s heart and his love for the people of Corinth is clear.
Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Paul, Peter and Apollos were sent by Christ himself to equip his people so that the body of Christ could be built up, not torn apart.
We will never attain the full measure of Christ if we are constantly comparing and clawing our way to the top. Jesus offers a different type of perfection. When we focus our eyes on him and become a community who seeks to come together for the world, that is when we will become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Reflection
Who in your life helps you keep your eyes focused on Jesus?
Prayer
God, thank you for Paul and his teachings. Thank You for creating us to be in community. Thank You for creating us differently and unique and for allowing us to contribute to Your Church. I pray that I would not look to the left or the right but keep my eyes on You and what You have called me to do. I pray for people to point me towards You and that I would have the courage to do that for others as well. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Port City’s Children’s Ministry Home Coordinator, wrote today’s devotional.