Grow Up!
New born babies cannot eat solid food, their bodies are just not ready for it. They can only cope with milk, until their bodies have matured until they can both swallow and digest anything else.
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (CEV)
Working Together for God
3 My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That’s why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. 2 So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. You could not take solid food, and you still cannot, 3 because you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual and that you are acting like the people of this world.
4 Some of you say that you follow me, and others claim to follow Apollos. Isn’t that how ordinary people behave? 5 Apollos and I are merely servants who helped you to have faith. It was the Lord who made it all happen. 6 I planted the seeds, Apollos watered them, but God made them sprout and grow. 7 What matters isn’t those who planted or watered, but God who made the plants grow. 8 The one who plants is just as important as the one who waters. And each one will be paid for what they do. 9 Apollos and I work together for God, and you are God’s garden and God’s building.
Paul compares the Corinthians to new-born babies. Spiritually, they are not ready for anything other than milk. They cannot take it in or digest it, their faith is not yet mature enough for it.
So how are they to mature? First of all, they need to stop arguing about which one of the leaders they follow, which one had brought them to faith. It is team work, and more importantly it is all done through and for God.
Leading churches and growing people in faith is team work. One person may be there at the point of decision, but many others will have had input – everyone is working together for one thing – and it is God’s work ultimately. While ever they are arguing which figurehead they follow, they are showing their immaturity. The church shouldn’t have celebrities, just everyone working together to bring about what God asks. Some will have one role, others a different one – but it is all part of the main work. We need to learn that and work in and through it. To stop looking at what each person is doing, but what we are collectively doing together. It’s the only way to grow.
Lord,
forgive me when I look at who and not you,
when I compare the work of different people,
instead of what we are doing collectively
when there is jealousy
and arguing
instead of
looking at what you are doing.
Help me to remember that it is your work,
not my work,
or their work,
but all yours.
Help me to grow,
to be ready for the next stage,
to mature
in and through you.
There’s a Quiet Understanding
When we’re together
Sharing understanding
Pam's Perambulation 