To Receive or Not to Receive

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

TO RECEIVE OR NOT TO RECEIVE

1 Cor 9:12-14

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

NIV

Sometimes it seems as though Paul is boasting about not accepting any support for his ministry. He makes sure they know that anyone who preaches the word should be able to make his living from the word.  Pastors are due their wage for the labor they do among the people. Perhaps for Paul, it was simply preaching the gospel message over and over again, the same message about Jesus Christ being the Savior and a person's need to turn from idols and turn to Jesus. Yet, it would also seem that he taught righteousness, a fuller message of how to live in Christ and have Christ live in them. Surely Paul did not have the gospels or all the letters he and others wrote that make up what we have today as the bible. He did have some writings of Moses, and the prophets as well as the psalms to draw from, but his main source was his encounter with Jesus. Today, pastors have to spend hours in preparation for a sermon or to teach a bible study or Sunday school lesson. This labor is not just about one hour on Sunday morning. So then when would they have time to labor for their sustenance outside the church? Although Paul says and will say it again that he does not take advantage of this right to make his living from the gospel, he does say that those who preach have that right. Still, we cannot help but think Paul seems a little full of himself regarding not taking anything from anyone and that he puts up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Why would accepting support hinder the gospel? Would that mean that all paid ministers are hindering the gospel of Christ? Perhaps the main point here is that if a pastor or minister, such as an evangelist or one of those high profile televised preachers are motivated by monetary gain, then they may well be a hindrance to the gospel. That is their reputation for the abundant lifestyle can cause unbelievers to think of Christianity as a big sham. Certainly, if those who preach the gospel, or some form of Christianity do so for their own benefit and use their followers to live far exceedingly above all others, then perhaps this is what Paul is speaking about. Any pastor who shepherds his flock deserves his wages, which is within the guidelines of scripture. But when they take advantage of their right and fleece the flock, so to speak, to gain wealth for themselves, Paul says they hinder the gospel. There has to be a difference between receiving a living from the gospel and using the gospel for monetary gain. However, it is right for ministers to expect to make a living from the gospel if God has called them to minister. It is also right to refuse to make their living from the gospel if that would hinder their message. The choice has to be between a minister and God, and them alone.

Doing Right

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DOING RIGHT

1 Cor 9:3-12

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

NIV

It is true there are some pastors of churches that still have to work an outside job because either the church congregation is so small or they are not all givers so that the church budget cannot afford to pay a full-time pastor. This is bringing this truth up to date for our time in history. Paul was making that point about himself and Barnabas. They had the right to be paid as full-time pastors as the other apostles were as well as have their families along with them in their various missionary trips or as they stayed in Jerusalem as the pillars of the church. We know that Peter and James and John, the sons of Zebedee were all fishermen, and it would seem they were not fishing while serving as the pillars or pastors of the church. Somehow they were still able to live, pay their bills, so to speak, and buy food and drink. Paul is making the point that anyone who serves in the role of the pastor should be able to make his living from that role, that calling God has on their life. Paul makes it clear that those who sow spiritual seeds should have the harvest or the right of support from the church. Today, it would seem some churches do not consider this truth and expect some pastors to work outside the church to support themselves. It would seem voluntarism would be considered more spiritual in some cases, even among the laypeople. We have been among churches that held that belief and took advantage of its people in order to store up wealth for itself. Could it be possible in the case of those small churches that cannot afford to pay their pastor enough to support them, that either the pastor should not be there or has not been called by God to pastor, or the church is simply not behaving as the church, or should not be a church at all? Although we have been told by one of our pastors of long ago, that the size of a congregation is related to how many people a pastor can effectively shepherd. Yet, how can that be true when we see some of these high-profile preachers with congregations in the thousands and living like kings. How can they actually shepherd that many people? It would seem what Paul is saying the size is not the issue, but rather the condition of the church and the right of those called to be pastors of the church deserve their wages. He will go on later to say that he does not claim that right that he put up with anything in order to not hinder the gospel. However, his point is that he has the right of support for his ministry, as do all who are called. The church should do what is right.

Called

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

CALLED

1 Cor 9:1-2

9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

NIV

This whole chapter, as we use chapters, although Paul did not, consists of his defense of his apostleship and his right to make a living from the gospel because he lives for the gospel. This beginning has some truth for us as well, in the sense that it is not up to others to determine our qualification to preach the gospel as it is strictly up to the Lord to call whom he does and to empower those he calls to preach the gospel message. Now, that does not mean that we all have not been called, for all who believe have been called, and all are called to preach the gospel in some sense. Are we not all supposed to witnesses of the grace of God in our lives? Are we not all to live in such a manner that all can see the evidence of the grace of God in us? This is not living by the law, or by a set of manmade rules and regulations believed to be scriptural, but rather a life in which the divine influence of God is upon our hearts and how it is reflected in our lives, as that is how the Greek word translated as grace is defined. So if His grace is reflected in our lives, then we would be a living testimony of grace. We would demonstrate grace to others, or an act of graciousness as we see grace has also defined a verb, an active, just as God’s grace, His influence is upon and active in our lives. This is not a one-time act, but an ongoing active act of graciousness and influence of God in our lives. Therefore, we are to live in this same manner, always being influenced, always being gracious, always being a testimony of His life in us. As far as those called to be preachers, we have to note that each and every denomination is a man-established earthly organization that has the right to certain rules, or standards if one wants to be recognized or certified by them to preach in their organization, or churches. This does not always mean those accepted by those denominations as preachers or pastors have been called by God to be a shepherd of his people. Paul makes it clear his calling is from God, and we too should make certain that if we have the privilege of preaching the word of God that first and foremost we know without a doubt that God has called us to the task. If we have not been called by God and empowered by God, then we are mere men acting in the manner of men, using our knowledge, our abilities and those are meaningless if done without a calling from God. It is not the eloquence of our words that matters, for men can be eloquent, but it is the power of the Spirit within that matters. We can preach with plain words, but if they are empowered by the Spirit they are the words from God for His people. We only have to look at Moses, a man who struggled with words, admitting to God that he was slow of speech, so God gave him Aaron to assist him yet he was used mightily by God to direct His people because he was called. So let us understand it is God who calls us, each for His own purpose, and let us live to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

Be Careful

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BE CAREFUL

1 Cor 8:9-13

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

NIV

Now we have arrived at what we had eluded to before about this idea of eating food sacrificed to idols and in doing so causing harm to the weaker brother in Christ. At least that was the situation in Corinth. We do not have any temples to idols nor any food that is sacrificed to them, so we need to modernize this truth for our time and culture. The only perceived taboo in the Christian community today is drinking adult beverages. In some communities of faith, not too long ago, dancing, smoking, going to movie theaters, roller rinks, bowling alleys, and at one time boys and girls going swimming together were all taboos. Many of these things have gone by the wayside, except the drinking of adult beverages. We still hold to the idea that this activity results in being a drunk, and is frowned upon by those who think that being a teetotaler is being righteous. Again, we have to go to the teaching of Jesus about what goes into the stomach does not go into the heart. However, if by the freedom we have in Christ to have a glass of whatever, causes someone who believes it is not right to do so, to indulge themselves in a glass of whatever because we do, and they feel guilty in doing so, then we should not do it either. But this truth applies to so much more then eating food sacrificed to idols or drinking a glass of whatever. The point is that any behavior or attitude that is expressed outwardly that would cause a brother in Christ to think that behavior or attitude is acceptable and therefore engage themselves in the same manner as us, but feels somehow they are doing wrong, and feel guilty, then we should refrain from such behavior or expressing our attitude. When we see a brother or sister that is freely doing something without any guilt or remorse, then we either think it might be alright or that we have ill feelings about them, seeing their attitude as being so wrong, if we are one of the weaker believers. Still, it seems all this applies to our public life, and not what we do in the solitude of our own homes, at least in the having a glass of whatever is concerned. Of course, attitudes and behaviors that are really against the Lord, we all should refrain from. The point is still the same in the sense that we should be aware of our brothers and sisters in all that we do so as not to be a stumbling block to those of them whose faith is weak. This is not in the sense of because they think it is wrong, but in the sense that they would be emboldened to do the same as us. So we need to be careful.   

Heart or Stomach

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

HEART OR STOMACH

1 Cor 8:7-8

7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

NIV

We are still in the midst of Paul’s instructions regarding idols and lords with special attention to eating food that has been sacrificed to some idol. Why would it make any difference because idols or those false gods of Corinth has no meaning whatsoever to those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, or at least they shouldn’t? The point here is that whether they eat food sacrificed to idols or they don’t, neither choice gets them any closer to God. Is there anything in our world today that could come close to this teaching? It would seem food is not the issue but perhaps drink might. Although there is nothing in the scripture that forbids the drinking of wine, there are those who think abstaining from wine makes them a better Christian, or perhaps get them closer to God, in a sense. It is true that getting drunk is not right and the scripture does speak to that issue in that we should be drunk in the Spirit rather than with wine. Drunkenness is a state of being out of control of our faculties which is how we should be in the Spirit. That is the Spirit should be in control. But the point is that abstaining from wine entirely or drinking some wine does not get us any closer to God. It is not what goes into our bodies that defiles us, as Jesus taught. Food and drink do not enter our hearts, but our stomachs and leave by other means. But what is our heart is what Jesus says makes us unclean. He gives a list that includes evil thoughts, sexual immorally, theft, murder, or hatred, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, or jealously, slander, or gossip, arrogance, or being puffed up, and folly or egoism. That is quite a list of evil that can exist in our hearts which makes us unclean, but some pay way too much attention to whether we drink wine or not, however, pay no attention to how much food they eat, being puffed up in another sense, which is thought of in scripture as being a glutton. It makes no sense to pay attention to whether we eat or drink or don’t eat or drink when there is so much in our heart that we need to be attentive to. What good is it to abstain from wine or certain foods when we are all puffed up with pride, or we gossip or have a desire to store up wealth for ourselves, or any of those things Jesus spoke about being within our heart? Now, have we been forgiven for all those sinful thoughts? Yes, but then that would also mean we have been forgiven, if we even need to be, for eating or drinking that which enters our stomach rather than our heart. We can see the foolishness of this, yet if we go on, the idea is that if we have a weaker brother or sister that does not understand the truth and thinks that eating food sacrificed to idols is wrong, then we should be respectful of that weaker brother or sister. So we need to be careful not to offend that weaker believer by impressing our freedom upon them, and exercise our freedom in their presence, perhaps weakening them even more, but we will get to that later. For now, we simply need to see the truth in this matter, food and drink do not make us unclean, but what is in our heart can. It comes down to heart or stomach.  

idols and lords

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

IDOLS AND LORDS

1 Cor 8:4-6

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

NIV

As we have already noted, this is only a segment of the main point Paul is making regarding this idea of food sacrificed to idols and our responsibility as believers. Still, these little nuggets along the way are worth spending time with. Once again, within the context, Paul is talking about the culture within Corinth and the fact they had various temples to an array of gods and lords. The reason Paul includes lords seems right in the sense that this Greek word carries the meaning of that which is master over someone, having the power to decide, or he that possesses a thing or person. Certainly, gods mean just that, an object of worship, but it is the word lord that bothers us the most. Of course in the modern church, we mostly consider having idols or making something an idol, something we think very highly of. Still, we do not replace the one true God with our desire of it in some sense worship of our idol. Some would say that some people make money or power or position their idol, but it would seem more appropriate to call them lords. Anything that has mastery over us would be a lord in our lives, not necessarily an idol. Even attitudes can be lords, in the sense that if we are always critical, or judgmental, or prideful, it may have mastery over us. If there is some area in our lives that we cannot gain control of, whatever that is, it may be a type of lord and that it has mastered us. What we have to consider is that the root of all sin is selfishness. Whatever sin we can think of it stems from the desire to have what we want or behave how we want, and think or have an attitude how we want. In all these areas we are the one who has the choice to allow self to master us, which means we are our own lord, or to allow the Spirit to have His way in our life which means the Lord would have his way and He would be our Lord and Master, not our self. Do we struggle with sin? Sure, we would be God if we didn’t, but we are human, living in the world with many temptations and we have not yet attained perfection. Yes, we are not to make provisions or excuses for the flesh or excuse our sin because our flesh or self is weak. But the fact is we do sin, yet the point here is not to allow any sin to become our lord, to be master over us, to make that decision for how we behave or think. Our life is in Christ and we need to always think in those terms looking to Him for He is the only one who gives us life, in whom we live. Nothing should master us and we should not make anything more important than our Lord. There should be no idols and lords for there is but one God. So we should consider if we have allowed in any idols and lords.

Puffed Up or Build Up

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

PUFFED UP OR BUILD UP

1 Cor 8:1-3

8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

NIV

Once again, we should include this whole chapter, or as Paul did not write in chapters, his whole thought regarding eating food sacrificed to idols. But that would be too much to digest at one time and there are these nuggets of truth within to deal with. This idea of thinking they possessed knowledge is one of those nuggets. We can take this idea and bring it right up to date in the church today. We might think that we have all the truth of God and appear that we do. We might even have a fuller knowledge of the word of God than some others, especially those new in the faith and are just learning how to live in accordance with the will of God. Certainly, God has called and gifted some to be shepherds and teachers so as to assist others in their walk of faith. He gifts some with a greater ability to have insights that others might not see. But the fact still remains that it is dangerous to think anyone is better, or that we are better than anyone which leads to being puffed up or arrogant. It is interesting the Greek word translated as knowledge is the root word for Gnosticism. There are various thoughts as to what a gnostic believes and what part, if any, does it play any role in Christianity. Within the context that Paul is using this word, it seems to imply the idea some thought they had a superior spiritual knowledge about God. One of the various meanings of being a gnostic was dualism or acknowledging more than one god and in that culture they certainly were various temples to various gods. Yet, in this idea here, if we restrict it to the church, this idea of thinking we have a superior knowledge only makes us think more highly of ourselves then we should. Being arrogant only divides the church, or it causes others to sin, as in not liking or thinking poorly of the one who is arrogant. This may even apply to those who think themselves to be spiritual, or very spiritual, appearing to be holy, or having this “Holier than thou” attitude can certainly cause division in the church, or at very least, not create unity. Love, on the other hand does create unity, as we love God, we also then love each other. As Paul puts it so concisely, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. So then we have the choice to either be puffed up or to build up.

Which is Better

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WHICH IS BETTER

1 Cor 7:39-40

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is — and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

NIV

This is the last of Paul’s comments regarding relationships, at least in this portion of the letter. There are other instructions regarding widows in the sense that a woman is still young enough to bear children she should remarry, but if she is past her age of being children, she should remain a widow. We think this is the same as what Paul is saying here, although not mentioning age. Still, there was something different as far as how women were perceived as it is today. For the most part, a woman’s identity was always related to a man, first as the daughter of, then the wife of, or as the mother of. To be a widow, that may have even been seen as the widow of. Still, it was very rare that a woman was seen as a single entity for herself. There have been instructions given regarding widows in that the church should take care of them. So in the manner, they are identified as a widow in the church, cared for by the church. Today, we have left those instructions by the wayside as most husbands have either provided some type of income for their wives should the man die first, or at least if they are older, the wife will receive her husband’s social security and any life insurance he might have. But the church has nothing to do with caring for a widow at least that is how it seems. Oh, at first there might be some concerns, but those concerns eventually wain and she is left to fend for herself. Of course, on the other hand, many women in our culture today have taken on their own identity excluding any relationship with a man. This whole woman’s equality movement has taken such root in our culture and has developed this attitude that women should be the same as men in all respects of life. So then it would be natural that a widow would not look to the church for her care, as she is more than capable of caring for herself, making all her own choices and decisions for her life, at least, as long as she is financially sound enough to do so. That is more or less what Paul is saying here. A woman, a widow has the right to make her own choice whether she wants to remarry or stay a widow. All those concepts of the culture have been set aside in the church and women have been lifted up to have their own choices in life, as such their own identity. So then should we not still care for a widow if she chooses to remain as one? Paul says she would be happier if she stays a widow. Are men that much of a burden, or is it that marriage itself has more responsibilities and being single? That may be at the center of Paul’s point here. But it still comes back to the way God intended his creation to live and that is a man and a woman being together living as one. God did not intend for people to be single and celibate, but to be joined together and enjoy all the benefits of a union. If everyone lived in accordance with the will of God, rather than their own will, it would be far better.

A Settled Mind

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

A SETTLED MIND

1 Cor 7:36-38

36 If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if she is getting along in years and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin — this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does even better.  

NIV

This is a very difficult concept because of the various translations of the Greek and then the Greek itself and how it can read. This translation has taken a completely different twist than how the Greek implies if used as it has been thought by many scholars. It all stems from the word translated as a virgin. Some translations add the word daughter to imply that a father has complete control over his daughters’ affections toward a man, or some man’s affections toward his daughter. However, if we use the Greek word here in the context with the rest, it can mean a virgin in the sense of a man remaining celibate. There is no Greek word in this verse that specifically implies the word she. So then we could see this in the respect that if anyone has control of his or her one body and can abstain from marriage and remain celibate that is good, so they can devote themselves holy to God, without the distractions of marriage. This fits with what Paul has already said. However, Paul goes on to say that it is a virgin's own will in the matter, if a person is getting older, beyond the normal years of marriage in that culture, which with the Jews would have been somewhere between sixteen, seventeen to twenty years of age and in the gentile culture anywhere between twenty and thirty years of age, and they think they should marry, then it is fine, that is not a sin. The fact is either being single and celibate or being married is alright, it is up to each person to decide which the best course of life is for themselves. Certainly today, in our society, we have lost all sense of this scripture. There seems to be no concern at all for celibacy in any sense, and that includes in some religious communities, or rather within the church. This does not mean that all who have taken the vow to remain celibate have failed to do so, but it would seem many are not able to abstain from keeping themselves virgins or pure. Because marriage is not an issue, in fact, rather preferred in most church communities it would seem we are not under any compulsion to adhere to these instructions. Nevertheless, we can take this to mean that it is alright to remain single as long as that singleness includes remaining a virgin. We can also take this to mean in the sense of all believers is that we need to remain in control of our own being, or own impulses. That is be settled in our own mind regarding our way of life as we serve the Lord, either being single or married. In other words, we should have no conflict within as to how we have chosen our path. We have the choice and once made to remain celibate we should, or we can change our path and become married, but it is ours and we should not be conflicted but live with a settled mind.

Being One

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BEING ONE

1 Cor 7:32-35

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs — how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world — how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world — how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

NIV

Paul is going on about this being single rather than married, which seems somewhat strange because God established marriage, and in doing so it would mean that man was not intended to live alone or be single, nor was women, as she was taken from man to be his helpmate, his partner. So why is Paul wanting to insist that marriage causes a divided heart? Should it not be possible that a married couple walks the same path, but loving the Lord and loving each other? We would think this is the way God intended man and woman to live, in harmony, both loving and serving the Lord as one. We are instructed to be one as God and Jesus are one, so why would one have a divided heart? However, because of the previous content, we would have to think this instruction was for those in Corinth because of their current crisis of persecution. Still, it would seem that because this is scripture, part of the canon, it also would seem that it should apply to all mankind in every time throughout history, the present time, and the times to come. What we can glean from this is the oneness that should occur within the bond of marriage. We are to please one another, and that would mean giving up selfishness, or what we like or dislike, but rather try to please the other in every way. That would also include being one in Christ, both wanting to please God in how they live. Paul has already indicated that if being single which includes celibacy, is too difficult to do because of the natural passions, created within us by God, that people should marry. Is Paul saying that he has no passion, no desires whatsoever to be intimate with a woman? Is he saying that he is pure as the driving snow and has no concern about the world at all and its pleasures, and it completely devoted, without any division in his heart at all? That almost sounds like being sinless and prideful, which is sin. Paul says that he does sin, in fact, he says he does that which he does not want to do and does not do that which he should do, so then how can he tell others to be that pure, and have no concern whatsoever for the world and not be married? By his own confession, it would seem there is some division in his heart, so how can he instruct others not to have a divided heart? But that is what we are supposed to fight, having a divided heart. We are not supposed to desire the Lord and the world. We live in this world and we must make our way in it, producing some amount of income to afford the needs of life, being single or married, so there will always be a part of us that must deal with the concerns of the world, even so, we can afford to invest in the kingdom, paying for the expenses of the church and the what we consider the work of the Lord. Again, we think it comes down to our focus, the main reason we do what we do. It should not be all about our selfish desires, but about the desires of the Lord. It is about being one with each other and one with Christ.

Focus

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

FOCUS

1 Cor 7:25-31

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

NIV

Again, this is not a command from God, but a suggestion from someone who has been called by God to give instructions regarding life. This is applicable today as we have pastors, teachers who have been called by God, who are, in fact, gifts to the church, who unwrap the word of God and bring more clarity to those who simply read it, but not with the full understanding or comprehension of all its truth. This is what Paul says he is trying to do for those believers in Corinth. Of course, they did not even have the word to read as we do, they only had the spoken words of various traveling preachers. Being mostly gentiles, we would think they did not even have the Torah. Nevertheless, Paul continues with his instructions regarding this idea about marriage and singleness. It seems he would much rather a single person not get married as well as remain celibate. He has already said that, but in addition said that if celibacy was too difficult, that the passions of the flesh were too strong, rather than sin outside the bonds of marriage, they should marry. Still, he believes, and not the Lord, that in the present crisis, which would indicate, this is strictly instructions for the Corinthians and we would not think to need to heed this suggestion. There was trouble in river city, so to speak and Paul says the time is short and marriage is going to be the cause of a lot of troubles. He even suggests that if a man is married, he should live as though he wasn’t. That is so not according to the design of God, so we have to consider this was only for those in Corinth because of the present crisis. In those days, as it has been in other days throughout history, the church was under much persecution. This idea here is that a single person would have it easier defending themselves, or caring for themselves, than someone with a family who they needed to make sure were protected and cared for as well. It would seem that does apply today in some sense. It is certainly easier in some respects to live as a single person than as a married person. Of course, today many singles never intend to remain celibate, but cohabitate for the pleasures of life, but without the responsibilities of marriage. If troubles develop, rather than having to cope they escape. This is the sense Paul was thinking, but it was more about troubles of persecution as believers. Still, it would seem that marriage today does require a certain sense of divided attention. Because we live in this world, we have to pay certain attention to making our way in it, and having a family requires paying more attention to providing a way, then a single may have to. Because of this, we cannot give all of our attention to the things of God, we just need to allocate time for the things of God and the things of the world. However, as believers, in our time spent within the world, doing whatever we do, we should be conducting ourselves with respect to the ways of the Lord. That is His ways should ever be present with us and should influence our time spent making our way in the world, which would mean we are not engrossed in the things of the world, but making a living is a necessary evil, so to speak. Paul gives us this idea in saying the things we own, we should not think we own them. If we buy something, we should see it as not ours to keep for everything will pass away. What it would appear is that although we have to live here, as it is what God created for us to live in, or on, we should not focus our attention on the very thing. This earth was created by God for us to live upon, but to live for Him and not for life itself. He designed a place where he could fellowship with his creation, and this place is still here, and he still wants to fellowship with us. So if our focus is upon the place instead of on Him, then we are not fellowshipping with Him, but with the place He created. It comes down to where is our focus.

Living Content

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LIVING CONTENT

1 Cor 7:17-24

17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

NIV

This portion of Paul's letter has direct instruction that was practiced on the day this letter was written. It is highly doubtful there is any need for this to be done today. When Paul speaks about this rite of the Jewish people of circumcision, it was the law as given to Moses and it was done only by the Jews. Gentiles were not circumcised although there were Jewish believers who have been called Judaizers. They insisted that gentiles could not be a Christian unless they first became a Jew through the rite of circumcision. Paul speaks directly that is should not be the case. If a gentile hears the call of God and is uncircumcised he should remain that way. As far as Paul's instructions to those Jews who were circumcised, he tells them not to try to become uncircumcised. Without giving any details, as it would not be appropriate to anyone traveling this journey with us, there was a practice that could appear to do something to a man’s flash that would make it appear as though he was not circumcised. This would have been thought important to some believing Jews who wanted to hide their Jewishness because of, again the practice of that day, entering a public bath. However, the main point Paul is making which we can apply to ourselves is being the same person we were when God called us. If Jewish, remain so, if a gentile, remain so if as a slave, remain so, if a freeman, remain as one. We should not try to pretend to be anyone else other than we were are. This applies so much to our culture as it seems many attempt to impress everyone around them. There is an old Latin saying, “vestis virum facit”, although some claim Mark Twain coined the phrase. It means clothes make the man. Twain used it in the sense that a naked man never impresses anyone, but Paul has given it meaning in the sense that we should not live to impress men, by trying to become someone we are not. We are not to live to please men, but God. He called us to himself as he created us and in what area of life he placed us. The movie, "A Knight’s Tale" gives the idea of a man being able to change his stars, increase his station in life, which he does. It is not that we should not endeavor to improve ourselves in life, but that in doing so there is an inherent danger of always being discontent with our current lot in life. The fact is we are all responsible to God, which is under his care and direction. If we are living to please God, he will direct our paths, and He will bring us to where we can do the best of being a believer who lives in the kingdom of God for the Kingdom of God. When we pay too much attention to please men or live to impress others, we are not impressing God, nor are we lifting up God, but rather we are lifting up ourselves. God has called us just as we were, and yes, we have changed our stars in one sense, as once we were dead in our sins, and now we are alive in Christ. But that is all on God, He is the one who created us and He is the one who is transforming us. We live in contentment.

The Choice is Theirs

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

THE CHOICE IS THEIRS

1 Cor 7:12-16

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

NIV

Much has been said about this comment that Paul makes regarding that it is him who speaks, and not the lord regarding this next segment of advice, which may have been in response to a question. If all scripture is God-breathed, then how could this not be from the inspiration of the Lord? It is thought, this advice he is giving is not directly spoken about in any text or rather in the law given to Moses. However, it still is consistent with Godly principles and should be seen as being inspired by the Spirit, rather than just a portion of a letter that only came from the mind of man. This portion deals with marriages where one of the partners has become a believer and the other has not. How should this type of marriage survive? It comes down to the choice of the non-believer, rather than the believer. This reason can only be on account that believer is bound to their marriage in obedience to the Lord. Whichever the unbelieving spouse makes the believing spouse should be willing to accept. It is interesting, because of the believing spouse the unbelieving spouse is declared holy so that children will be clean or holy. However, the point is still the same regarding the mindset of a believing person regarding marriage. It is established by God and therefore is ordained that it should remain holy and sacred remaining intact till death parts them. There is one specific circumstance a believer has been given the approval to leave a marriage, but that is the only one. Today, of course, it would seem appropriate for a Christian woman to seek refuge through divorce because of either a mentally or physically brutal husband. It seems horrible under sharia law that a husband has the right to physically beat or even behead his wife if she displeased him in any way, but that is a man without God. Within a marriage where there is at least one spouse who knows the Lord, there is a chance the other will find their way to God. But the choice remains in the hands of the unbelieving spouse. It seems that is the simplest way to interpret this portion. The believer has no choice, it rests with the unbeliever.

One Not Two

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

ONE NOT TWO

1 Cor 7:8-11

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

NIV

Why would Paul say that it is good for a person to remain single and not to marry? By his own confession, He is a single man, at least at the time he wrote this letter. There is some controversy regarding whether Paul was ever married or whether he was always single. This disagreement arises from the context of his statement about those who are unmarried and widows. Because he uses windows in reference to women and does make a specific reference to a widower in regards to men, it is thought because of the context the Greek word translated as unmarried could apply to widower because he uses in connection with widows. So then if either a man or woman who lost their spouse through death, should not remarry, especially in those times where persecution and troubles were so prevalent. Having to be concerned about family in times of hardship and trouble was an extra burden and Paul thought it best not to be encumbered with family. We will see later that Paul makes the point that many of the other apostles who traveled to spread the gospel brought their wives with them, but he and Barnabas did not. Nevertheless, Paul is not opposing the divine ordinance of marriage or saying that he is against marriage in opposition to the fact God ordained that a man and a woman should be joined together, to be one. This suggestion by Paul was due to the extreme situation the existed in Corinth, and the church was in trouble of being infiltrated by the ideologies of the world and it was under persecution by the world. Again, it makes sense that he first takes to the widowers and widows, then addresses those that are still married. He makes sure he is not speaking against the ordinance of God, by his statement that it is not he, but the Lord that says a wife must not separate from her husband, but if she does, she must remain unmarried, or get back with her husband, reconcile herself to him. A man must also not divorce his wife, or put her out. This is a God-ordained institution and divorce is not permitted among believers. There are extenuating circumstances, but this is not the time or place to deal with that. Here, it is about talking about those who were married and their spouse has died, and those who are still living with their spouses. Paul had just given the duties of each in marriage regarding not withholding their bodies from their spouses, which is making sure to meet the sensual needs of each other. This is a continuation of those instructions to the married, but that if anyone found themselves to be a widower and widow it would be best to stay that way unless they were unable to control their sensual nature. The point is God created us with this sensual or sexual nation for the purpose of wanting to have that intimacy to fill the earth. Again, if God did not create us with that kind of desire, mankind would have been extinct thousands of years ago. So it is in our nature and it requires marriage to fulfill those desires. Paul is not against married for God is for it. Paul is saying the same as the Lord is saying except that it seems at the time in Corinth it would be more difficult for those believers with families. Nevertheless, today we face many temptations and distractions that can cause hardships or trouble in the family, but that does not mean we should not have families, spouses, and children. It does mean we have to be traveling in the same direction, with the same purpose, to serve the Lord. If the family is divided, it becomes more difficult for the believing member. We need to make sure we are in this as one, and not as two.

Marriage

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

MARRIAGE

1 Cor 7:1-7

7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.   2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

NIV

This portion of the letter is in response to a question that was asked via some type of messenger sent from Corinth to Paul. The question seems to be regarding marriage within the church concerning the present times that existed in Corinth. The fact there were so many cults or cult-like practices in Corinth and so much sexual immorality, which in fact, Paul includes warnings against such behavior in the church, they needed to know how marriage played a role in the Christian life. Because of the context of the rest of this portion, it is considered right to translate the Greek word haptoo as marry, although it actually means, to touch, or to fasten to, make adhere, specifically to fasten fire to a thing, to kindle. So we have to consider that marriage is at the core of this discussion. It would seem that according to many of the philosophers of that age, marriage was more of an inconvenience or an evil, although a necessary evil. To carry the responsibilities of caring for a woman would have been considered a burden. The saying that it is difficult to live with them, but impossible to live without them may well have come from this general thinking of that time. However, Paul does go to give instructions as to how marriage should be considered in the church. We need to take this with respect to the plan that God established when he created man and woman, breathing life into man and then making woman from man as his helpmate. God intends that there be one man with one woman, living as partners in life, having all the benefits of intimacy, both for the procreation of mankind, and its pleasures. The pleasures were an incentive created by God so that man would indeed procreate. If intimacy contained no pleasure at all, it would seem there would be no reason to engage in it. However, the world has gone mad with the pleasures and has forsaken marriage and many have abandoned procreation. Paul is going to spend a great deal of time regarding how this marriage should look like, although everything is said as a concession, that is, it seems he would rather everyone remain single and celibate. However, if that were the case then mankind would have become exist long ago and that is not the plan of God, so we might have to conclude that Paul was speaking as a man, and not as a messenger from God, or at least, we need to see God’s plan within these words. We will see that Paul indicates that marriage is a burden, in the sense that men are concerned about the things of the world in order to care for their wives and the same goes for the wife in her concerns for her husband. That a single person is not burdened with this division of trying to satisfy a spouse and God. A single person, a celibate person only has the concerns of pleasing God. However, over the course of history, we have found, and even to this day, that many who profess the life of celibacy have failed to maintain that life engaging in various immoralities. We need to spend more time in this portion, delving deeper into each segment. But for now, let us consider marriage within the plan of God and see this all in that context.

The Temple

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

THE TEMPLE

1 Cor 6:12-20

12 "Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."   17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

NIV

It seems inconceivable those believers still continued to visit prostitutes as a normal part of life. But it would also seem this is directly what Paul is addressing here. It would also be absolutely inconceivable that any believer today would engage in any activity with prostitutes, yet we have seen famous preachers catch in that very act. So then it would be possible this type of behavior is present in the church today. Still, the larger issue is not just this type of sin, but all sin that deals with some sort of physical pleasure. Paul mentions the stomach as though gluttony may also be an issue we should concern ourselves with, although Paul pretty much stays with the sexual immorally problem that existed then and might possibly still exist today. To what extent we do not know nor should we. This is for each believer to deal with in a personal way and determine if any behavior that may be permissible is beneficial. It is for every believer to determine if they are mastered by any attitude or behavior. There is this underlying truth that everything in this physical world will be destroyed and that will include any of the physical pleasures we indulge in, of whatsoever sort they are. This is shown to us in how Paul puts it in that he says, “food for the stomach and the stomach for food”. The fact is if we are united with Christ then we should not be united with the things of the world, the pleasures of the world, in this case. The problem is that we should be able to define what the pleasures of the world are. Is there a diffident hardline, or is it a bit fuzzy? It would seem the line is defined between the sins that are committed outside our body, such as greed, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, or any other sin that we are aiming toward another and those we do within our body, such as sexual sins, which could be defined in several ways, both in our mind and body, even as the lust of our eyes. Because our bodies are the temple of the Lord, we should be united to Him and therefore not united with the things that cause us to sin within our bodies. So then we should honor God with our body, keeping ourselves pure in mind and body, like a temple.

Being an Heir

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BEING AN HEIR

1 Cor 6:7-11

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

NIV

Continuing on, Paul gives them a stern warning regarding how they treat or behave toward each other. There is no question that we all have come from a life that was completely void of any resemblance of morality. Oh sure, some might say they have always been a good person, maybe even thinking they were born a Christian or had at least been a Christian all their lives. But the fact is, we all were born sinners, and lived a life of sin until the day we died, and were born again. Of course, Paul says that some of them were those offenders that he lists. So maybe some of them were normal sinners, just pagans, unaware of God, or of Jesus. But the point Paul is making is that we who now believe have been washed, we have been sanctified, and God has made us holy, or declared us holy. We have been justified or declared innocent of all charges. Yes, we need to change the way we think and behave, but that is why we have to consider the old self dead. How can a person be born again unless they first die? It seems difficult to understand how we could evolve into being a Christian as birth seems to be a specific moment in time, as it was when we took our first breath as a newborn baby. We celebrate that day each year of our lives, but that person no longer lives, as that person had to die in order for them to be born again, as Jesus took Nicodemus. The person we were born as cannot inherit the kingdom of God, for that person is totally flesh and blood with a deadly spirit bent on sin. Yes, we are still that person of flesh and blood, but that deadly spirit, has to be put to death and needs to be born again of the Spirit of God, and now lives in the Spirit of God and thus is able to inherit the kingdom of God. Does our flesh still cry out for some sort of sin? Unfortunately, it seems that is the case. Why does this happen? Why can’t we just say no to all sin, and live a perfectly clean, completely spiritual life? Why are we resurrecting the old self that is supposed to stay dead? If we have been washed, then we are washed. Is it just a case of the spirit being willing, but the flesh is weak. That seems as though we are making excuses for our weakness when He is strong and should be able to keep us from sin. However, the fact remains that we have been washed, and that does not depend on us, but on God, and what He has done cannot be undone. He has made us holy, He has declared us innocent, He has done that which only He can do and we cannot undo it. Can we turn our back on him? It might seem some have, but that would have to be a complete denial that God is real or that He exists. We still have sin in our life, but we have not turned away from God for it is only in Him have we found the forgiveness for all our sin, and so we live by His declaration, not ours, or being innocent and thus able to inherit His kingdom. Just to think that we are heir to the kingdom of God is awesome. So we live with that peace, that joy, that confidence of our being an heir to the greatest kingdom of all.  

Disputes

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DISPUTES

1 Cor 6:1-6

6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!   5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another — and this in front of unbelievers!

NIV

Again, it would seem that we would have to include this whole chapter, as it is called, in order to get the fullness of this admonishment. We also know Paul did not write his letter in chapters, still, we have divided it in respect to various concepts he deals with. Although this is still sort of a continuation of his insisting the church expel the wicked man, the one who was sexually immoral with his fathers’ wife, from fellowship. Paul goes on now to speak about having disputes within the church, disputes that are grievous enough to take each other to an ungodly court. Suing each other over issues that should be handled in the church, even by the least knowledgeable believer. The problem here is what kind of disputes is Paul speaking about. What type of dispute would we have today within the church that we would have to take a fellow believer to the civil court to get a judgment against them? In fact, why would we ever have a dispute of any kind? James asks that exact question, although rhetorically, as to what causes fights and quarrels among you. He answers that it is due to the war that wages within us. We want something but we don’t get it. There are several internal issues that can cause disputes within the church. Pride seems to be at the top of the list, as it is rooted in self-centeredness. When we are always about ourselves then it is easy to have hurt feelings, which can cause a hidden resentment, and turn into a quarrel. Another issue that could develop into a dispute is change and inflexibility. Change is a norm, things rarely state static, and if this change is not effectively communicated by church leadership, then those who have a difficult time with change may want to dispute this change as change for the sake of change and see no need. Abuse of power and church politics, which may go hand in hand, can cause all sorts of conflict or disputes within the church. This also sort of coincides with a church that has unclear authority issues as well as issues based on the personality of the leadership. In reality, it goes directly back to James when he says that we want, but we do not get. Disputes are at the core of selfishness, self-centeredness, immaturity in Christ, and living with too much influence from the world rather than from Christ. We need to remember that we are to imitate Jesus and He came not to be served, but to serve. Thus we need to always be aware that we come to church not to be served, but to serve. If that were the case we would not ever have a dispute with each other, especially one that requires the intervention of the ungodly to resolve. It would be a far better church if we never had a dispute, but when we do, let us resolve it as believers.

Walk the Talk

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WALK THE TALK

1 Cor 5:9-13

9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."  

NIV

Oh, what a sad state of affairs this early church in Corinth must have been. For Paul to indicate there were members or attenders of this church who professed Christ but lived immorally and were greedy swindlers and idolaters. It is interesting the meaning of the three Greek words. The word translated as sexually immoral is specifically referring to male prostitutes, of which there were many in this morally bankrupt city. The oldest temple was that of Aphrodite which by the time Paul was there had fallen into ruins according to historians. However, the successors of its one thousand cult prostitutes still practiced their trade in the city below where the temple stood. Then there were those who coveted what others had, and those who were aggressively eager to take what others had, and of course, those who worshipped idols, or idolized things. The world was full of these types of people, and it seems nothing has changed since those days. Our world today is no different, in fact, there may be even more sin abounding. Maybe even newer methods have been developed in the sexual immorality area, along with finding more concepts to fulfill the pervasiveness of greed, along with fleecing others of their resources. As far as idols, we could say there are more than we can count. That is the world and we need not be bothered with judging it, as God will do that all in due time. But the problem is not in the world but in the church. Paul was not concerned about judging the corrupted world, but that its influence had invaded the church, or at least to the point that there were some who said they were believers, but that was in word only, as they continued to live under the influence of the world. Do we have that in the church today? That would be horrible if it were true. Have we ever expelled anyone because of their wicked behavior? Maybe we just do not have anyone who fits into that category. Hopefully, we all have changed from our old and depraved ways and have rejected all such attitudes and behaviors. Certainly, we would not think such immorality exists in the church, but what about swindlers, or those who are greedy? Certainly, there are those among us, in the church that fleece the flock, so to speak, that take and take from others so to live the abundant life. Do we expel them? It seems we simply tolerate them. Yet, at the same time, we need to be careful not to be influenced by the ways of the world ourselves. There are so many ways in which the world can be deceptive and invade the church, in general, conducts itself and we need to be aware and beware not to allow it to affect the way we think or behave. If we say we are Christian, then we need to live as Christians. Words sound good, but actions speak volumes. As it has been said, a picture is worth a thousand words, so it is with the picture of our life versus the words of our mouth. Thus we have to make sure we walk the talk.

Leaven Free

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LEAVEN FREE

1 Cor 5:6-8

6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

NIV

Is the pride of their sin, that which Paul just mentioned about a man having illegal relations with this father’s wife, the same as this boasting which is not good? Is this the yeast that works through the whole batch of dough, or is Paul talking about spiritual pride, spiritual boasting, or perhaps the boasting is about having this freedom in Christ that what this man did was not actually considered a sin but freedom in Christ? It is most likely this is not about this man. But it is about the whole of the church boasting in their wisdom, in their superior knowledge and being about setting up and supporting their respective teachers, as Paul mentioned before about some follow Paul, some Apollos, some Christ. This is not the way of the Lord, we should all be united in the faith, having but one Lord, one Good Shepherd. We should be united around the word of God. This idea that Paul is presenting here is that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. In the Jewish tradition of Passover, they are to purge their homes of any evidence of leaven. There is not to be one single morsel of leaven anywhere in the house. Here Paul uses that analogy of the old yeast, purging the church of malice and wickedness and having bread without yeast, which is the bread of sincerity and truth. We can learn this lesson both as a church as a whole and in a personal sense. Of course, if we learn it in a personal sense, that would bring it right into the church as a whole. But that would require every one of us to learn it personally. If there is one who refuses to purge all malice and wickedness personally, then the church is in danger of that yeast spreading throughout. These Greek words translated as malice and wickedness carry various meanings. degrees of ill feelings, non-forgiveness, improper attitudes such as pride, arrogance, feeling superior, thinking more of ourselves than we should, as well as behaviors that should not be. Sincerity and truth on, the other hand, is being like Christ. He said that he is the way, the life and, the truth. Jesus never, nor has God ever lied about anything whatsoever. Jesus has never been insincere about anything. He is our Passover Lamb, and so as we indulge ourselves in Jesus, such as the Jews were to do with their Passover Lamb, eating every bit of it, ingesting all of Jesus, so to speak, then we would be so full of Christ, we would have no room for any leaven at all. We may not be able to have much effect on how others deal with this, but we as individuals need to make sure our bread, our life, is leaven free.

No Dual Citizenship

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

NO DUAL CITIZENSHIP

1 Cor 5:1-5

5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

NIV

This is a difficult passage to understand in one sense, yet it can be understood in another sense. We think there may have been far more sexual immorality going on in this early church than just the one particular situation that is referred to here. There is much debate among the scholars of old, and we guess that debate continues among today’s scholars. It also seems to us that scholars enjoy the debate as much as the truth. This situation is centered on a son having illegal relations with the wife of his father. The debate is over the situation of the father and his wife. Were they divorced and it would seem this son was from another woman as Paul does not say he was engaged immorally with his mother, so most believe this woman was his step-mother. Others think the husband or father of the son was dead, but Paul makes reference in his second letter about the wrongdoer and the one who was wronged. Nevertheless, this behavior was not even tolerated among the non-believers. Why this happened can only be attributed to the baseness that lurks within the heart of man. Still, Paul indicates they were proud of this situation as if it was the right thing to do, that it was acceptable behavior. This putting out of fellowship was what Paul was saying should have happened. Handing him over to Satan is not actually what is meant as if Satan was there waiting for him, to torture and torment this fellow. In reality, there are two kingdoms. The kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. We once lived under the rule of the kingdom of this world. It is under the influence of Satan and lives with no concern for God. The kingdom of God is under the influence and rule of God. So then, when someone, as Paul suggests, is removed from fellowship, removed from the church, excommunicated in this sense, he is sent packing back to the world, and under the influence of Satan. This might include being subject to all the illnesses and diseases of the world without the hope of healing that Jesus offers. Here we might take a lesson. We too have this choice of the two kingdoms, and it would seem impossible to live in both at the same time. We are either in one or the other. We either live under the influence of God or of Satan. Yet, when we yield to temptation are we not yielding, in some sense, to the influence of Satan? How can that be? This son was certainly doing more than yielding to temptation, he was living in that temptation, given over to it, fully engaged, and giving no concern for the instructions of the Lord. When we fall, when we give in on occasion, we are remorseful and embarrassed because of our weakness. We seek forgiveness and pray that the Spirit will give us the strength to overcome any further outbreaks, responses, or mistakes in our behavior or attitudes. For we have been moved from the kingdom of this world and brought into the kingdom of God. Our passport is Jesus, and our citizenship in the world has been revoked for we are not allowed to have dual citizenship.  

Talk is Cheap

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

TALK IS CHEAP

1 Cor 4:18-21

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

NIV

The key to this warning regarding those who are arrogant is the Greek word translated as arrogant. It means to be puffed up, or inflated, as to have an inflated ego. In the sense that it is used here,  it would imply there were believers among them who were puffed up about how spiritual they were, or how much knowledge they had as if they were now the teachers. But Paul makes it clear the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power. This Greek word translated as power is the base word we have for dynamite or explosive power, and in the sense of Christianity, it would carry the meaning of miraculous power. This would have to mean that if we talk the talk our life in Christ does not have much power, however, if we walk the talk then we are living in Christ with power. This power needs to be evident in our lives, and it is not about how strong we are, but what kind of miracles are evident in us. These may show up as the gift of the Spirit, for if we laid hands on a sick person and they were healed instantly that would be miraculous. If we spoke words of God, words of His wisdom, would that not be a miracle. There is the gift of miracles which is not defined as to what kind of type of happenings that means. In fact, Paul is going to outline or enumerate all the gifts of the Spirit later in this very letter indicating this life we live as a believer should be evidenced by the power of the Spirit working in our lives. This is far above and beyond our human abilities or efforts, for we are weak, but He is strong. We have no power within us, but the Spirit is full of power. So then whatever works we do and there is no affirmation of the working of the Spirit, it would be simply us doing works without power. Many non-believers are just as capable or even superior to us in many tasks or works. However, if there is no confirmation of spiritual power, the Spirit is missing and thus it is only by human efforts, and those will not stand in the presence of God. When the Spirit is evident, there will be power, dynamite power, and explosive power which belongs only to God. However, He gifts that power to us through the Spirit, so then we should be living in power, for if we only talk the walk, being puffed up, then talk is cheap, but if we walk in the Spirit, in humility, then we walk in power.

Live Our Words

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LIVE OUR WORDS

1 Cor 4:14-17

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

NIV

Paul is still referring to this division in the church when he makes this comment about them having ten thousand guardians in Christ. It would seem there were more than just a few evangelists making the circuit and spreading several versions of the gospel, or perhaps having a great deal of charisma drawing people to follow their brand of the gospel. There is a difference between teaching the gospel and living it. Paul says that he lives the way of Christ and that is what he has been teaching. Maybe that should be our life lesson not just for today, but for every day. What good does it claim to be a believer in Jesus, if we do not live like we are a Christian? When Paul tells them to imitate him, as their spiritual father, or in other words, like father, like son, he is not insisting they live perfect lives, as Paul was not a perfect man. By his own testimony, he said in his letter to Timothy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of which he was the chief or the worst. He also made it clear that he did that which he did not want to do, and did not do that which he should do. This imitating him is in regards to living by the grace of God, living a life in Christ Jesus, but also living as what we confess. If we tell people we are Christians, then our behavior should match. This does not mean we have to act all holy roller in front of them or be this mild manner reporting that is hidden his superman outfit under his suit. We can be out there, having fun, being an impact on the world around us, but at the same time being that go-to person when people need prayer, or have an issue they need advice about. They know we believe and we are outward in our faith, open and frank about the love of Jesus. We can even live a bold and courageous life, being an extrovert in the sense of living our faith out loud. We need not keep ourselves isolated from those terrible sinners, even the ones that use foul language or live an alternative lifestyle, or perhaps simply hate religion, or religious things or standards, thinking Christians are hypocrites. Paul never was shy, even to the point of being beaten and suffered horrible treatment from some people groups. If we are to imitate him, which he says is in fact, imitating Christ, then we need to be about sharing the message of grace, the message of the availability of the forgiveness of God through Jesus. But as we speak it, we need to live it as well. That is we must live in the grace of God, in Christ Jesus, living in the forgiveness of God. We cannot live like those parents who say, do as I say, not as I do, but we should be careful to do that which we say, to live as we speak, live our words.