“A balloon deflated”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Thursday, February 22, 2024 1 Corinthians 2:14 – 3:15 (Forward, p. 24) CEV p. 1191
Unfortunately, Christians, just like anyone else, can get rather inflated and puffed-up views of themselves. And, while this, just in itself, can cause problems and issues, it becomes all the trickier and more difficult when the offending party or parties can point to Scripture passages that seemingly back up their claim to prominence. The opening verses of today’s passage have a couple of these misused ‘proof texts’:
“Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny” (chapter 2, verse 15).
“’For who had known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (verse 16).
Lots of grounds for feeling superior, for exalting oneself above one’s fellows, yes? But then there is the next verse, which, unfortunately, in our present Bibles, comes in the next chapter (chapter 3, verse 1). It totally and emphatically deflates any balloon of self-pride and glory and superiority that they might be feeling about themselves:
“And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ” (NRSV).
“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" (CEV).
Paul then lays out the grounds for this allegation, two of them in fact. The first is that they are jealous and argue with each other, that there is quarrelling among them. This would seem to indicate that this is something far more than a merely occasional ‘event’ but something that is continuing and habitual. Clearly, they are putting themselves and their own agendas and wishes above that of either Christ or the church.
The second indication of their immaturity is the fact that they have chosen to ‘take sides’, with some lining up behind Apollos and some favouring
himself, Paul. But Paul says that all of this is nonsense. He and Apollos are both ‘part of the same team’, working toward the same end goal and each only doing his own part in it. Besides, he says, none of the credit should go to them, as it is really Christ who does all the work. Indeed, Paul says, Christ is the only foundation upon which anyone can build, and so we build upon Him and on Him alone. And, where each of us has a part to play in this task of building the church, it is Christ who has called us to this task, and it is Christ who has equipped and empowered us for it.
And so, Paul says, there is no reason for us mere mortals to become puffed up at all or inflated in our own assessments of ourselves. It is in Christ alone that we glory, and to Him alone belongs all the praise. Thanks be to God, who makes all this possible.
Forward notes: “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building” (chapter 3, verse 9).
“In this passage, Paul speaks to the Corinthians about their behaviour and attitudes toward each other and how jealousy and infighting hinder their faith growth. He reminds them that they are all part of the same team, working toward the same goal, and their focus should be on building each other up, not tearing each other down.
“While the NRSV translation uses the word ‘servants,’ other translations say we are God’s co-workers. I love this approach—the idea that we are partners with God in the work of building the kingdom. We are not mere spectators or passive recipients of God’s grace but active participants in the redemptive plan for the world.
“We need each other. Just as a field requires different tasks, such as planting, watering, and harvesting, each person has a unique role in God’s plan. And just as a building requires different materials and structures, each of us has a unique contribution to the growth and development of God’s church.”
Moving Forward: “Send a few notes or texts of encouragement today, acknowledging the gifts of others in your life.”