Bible Chapter: I Corinthians 3

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    The Corinthian church was still very immature as Paul wrote. He said that they should have grown up and acted like spiritual adults by that time, but they were carnal, unspiritual men of the flesh.  They were letting the world impact them.  They were letting divisions and selfishness take control.  This always leads to problems.
    Verse 3 in the Amplified Translation puts it well:
“3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?”
    Paul showed maturity when he said that the various spiritual leaders were not in competition with one another.  He was basically saying “It’s not about me”.  Who are Paul and Apollos?  They are simply ministers who God was using.  It is God who brings the increase. Any good that happens is only because God does His supernatural work.  He said they were workers together for God.  This great insight would prevent and solve many problems churches deal with.
    The spiritual work that is done must be founded on that which will last.  Some of the work Christian workers do will end up being burned up in the fire, for it is not based on eternity.  It is worthless.  The foundation of everything must be Jesus Himself.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Paul was writing to the local congregation in Corinth, the temple of God.  He is speaking to local fellowships that they are the dwelling place of the Spirit.  They were a temple of the Lord in the middle of a perverse society.  That sounds like the modern world.  They were warned not to participate in the evils of the day.  That warning still stands. It seems that the more common evil becomes the more it wants to creep into the church, and is unfortunately often accepted.  It seems that believers are more and more prone to the pull of sin.  All forms of sin must be rejected.  God calls for a holy church and a holy people.
    I must continually be aware of the traps of all the “fun” the world is having.  I must recognize that the fun is only temporary and then pay day comes.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I am reminded of many advertisements that come towards the Christmas season.  There is a great push to get people to buy many things, often what they don’t really need.  The promotions will talk about “no payments till next year”.  Well, very quickly next year comes and the payments start.  The pleasures people dwell on will quickly turn into the consequences.  I need to help people see that.