We are continuing with the theme of growing today. We have looked at several passages over the past few weeks that talked of growing using gardening/farming examples. Today we are going to look at another example that gets personal and challenging to your growth as a follower of Jesus.
The church at Corinth was torn apart by loyalties to different leaders, different views of ethical behavior, worship, spiritual gifts, and relationship to Jewish laws and pagan religions. Paul wrote this letter in A.D. 54, from Ephesus, to restore relationships with the Corinthian church and to guide the church to unity in beliefs and practices by answering questions they had raised. 1
This setting from The Experiencing God Study Bible gives me pause to look at the world today, and what do I see? The churches in the world are still in this same state even after more than 1900 years. Even though this letter was from Paul to the Corinthians, it could be a letter from Paul to us today, as well. In fact, since we believe the Bible to be God’s word, we can see this letter coming from God to us to try to restore our relationship to Him.
God does not want us to be at odds with each other. He wants us to work together to give those who do not know Him a chance to find Him. If we spend all our efforts and time fighting over who is leading and what we should do for services and outreach, nothing is left to lead others to find Jesus.
God wants us to be united, a team that strives towards a common goal. Jesus showed us how to do that. It is written in His book, the Bible. Now read with me as we look at this passage today. We start in chapter three of First Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 3:1-5 NIV
1 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.
Before I comment on this text, I want to point out a change you should be aware of. The NIV version of the Bible has had a few revisions, ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011. This passage shows a change that occurred in 2011. NIV 1984 edition says, ‘mere men’. NIV 2011 edition says, ‘mere humans, human beings’.
This was done to make it clearer that ‘men’ means ‘all people’ in today’s language.
Back to the text we just read.
Paul is trying to get the Corinthians’ attention and to point out their immature behavior. Using the examples of milk versus solid food and world versus spiritual living, Paul is reminding them that when he was there, they were infant Christians and he had hoped they had grown up.
Paul had been a church planter in Corinth. This was a church he had started and he wanted it to grow strong in following God. Unfortunately, just like churches and Christians today, the Corinthians had allowed Satan to meddle in their work of spreading the Gospel message.
Whenever Christians take their eyes off Jesus, Satan slides in quickly and puts confusion and pride into their lives and stops the growth!
What responsibility has God given you at this point in your Christian walk? Are you at the milk or solid food stage? Are you focused on Jesus so that you are growing in knowledge and faith each day?
Paul is also setting up for the idea of planting and watering, which he gives us in the next part of this passage.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NIV
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.
The NIV Study Bible footnote gives us this information:
Vs 6 – I planted – See Acts 18:4-11. Paul’s work was of a pioneering nature, preaching where no one had ever preached before.
Apollos watered – Acts 18:24-28. Apollos worked in the established church, edifying the converts Paul had won.
Vs 9 – God’s field. The people are God’s farm, God’s building. They are also depicted as God’s temple (vv.16-17). He owns the farm and the building where both Paul and Apollos worked. 2
Here is a simple thought about having a good team-built garden. I plant the seed in good soil, you follow with water to aid in the plant’s growth, and God makes it grow. After the past few weeks of messages, we know that the type of soil for the seed is very important, that the watering of the seed is essential for strength, and that God’s blessing is needed for it to grow strong and healthy as a plant that will produce much fruit.
When we look at our spiritual lives as a plant, does it get what it needs to grow? Do you read the Bible daily, pray steadily, and fellowship regularly with other Christians? Is God blessing your labor for Him with fruit?
Hopefully this message has got you thinking about your growth and your role in this local church. The only way this church can be effective at telling others about God is by obedience to God’s Word and His plan for us. Look to your own heart’s relationship to God – is it strong? Do you see the way you fit in to God’s work in this church and neighbourhood?
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