"Acting Like Mere men"

It is interesting to look at 1 Corinthians to see all of the problems that the Christians were facing there.  It is true that the environment at Corinth at this time was quite vile.  People were doing whatever they felt like doing...and worshiping idols as well.  This was an attitude that was creeping into the church, affecting the spirituality of the Christians there.  While there were many problems cited in the letter, we will focus on the brief statement recorded in Chapter 3:

"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as 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 men?  For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere men?  What, after all, is Apollos?  and what is Paul?  Only servants..."

There are several lessons that we can derive from this passage:

1. Obviously, we need to not be following after men.  The New Testament, and certainly the teaching of 1Corinthians,  is clear on this point.  The Lord never intended that we Christians should splinter....and disagree.....and denominate (perhaps a new word but not a new concept).

2.We need to mature.  There is a danger in being immature...to the point of having to feed on "milk" instead of meat.  Paul wanted Christians to grow up, to be mature, strong.

3. We must avoid thinking like the world.  We must think in spiritual ways.  We must put God first, realizing the brevity of this life and the importance of eternity.

These thoughts seem obvious, but they are much harder to put into practice.  Let us all learn to do all to God's glory....not our own.

Have a great week...a blessed week!