PAUL’S DISAPPOINTMENT
Opening Prayer
Gracious Lord, how wonderful you are! How much you have so generously given to me and all your children.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:1–9
The Church and Its Leaders
3 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. 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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How would you define discipleship? Oswald Chambers said, ‘Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine.’* The Corinthians had not understood this concept!Part of my job for many years has been helping young people grow in their Christian faith. Some of that work has been very encouraging as we have seen fine young people grow and develop as Christian leaders. Sometimes, however, it is very frustrating, as we wonder how we can help young people discover that Christianity is not just a hobby that can be picked up and put down. It is not focused on us and what we gain.
It is possible to sense Paul’s frustration in these verses as he can not address the church as the mature believers they should be by now (v 1). Even worse, some thought they were showing loyalty to Paul by professing allegiance to him rather than one of the other apostles. ‘No, no,’ says Paul, ‘we are not in competition, trying to build our own empires. We are a team working together and God, working through us, is the one who produces growth’ (vs 4–9).
God is the important one – the one who produces growth. Apollos, Paul, Cephas, our spiritual leaders and ourselves are all just God’s servants, doing God’s work.
Apply
Who has been involved in discipling you and helping you grow as a Christian? Thank God for them now. Have you been involved in discipling others? Pray that you will point them to God not yourself.
Closing prayer
Mighty God, I thank you that you are in charge of all things, including my life. Help me to trust in your loving care and your gracious will no matter what life brings.
*’My Utmost for His Highest,’ Oswald Chambers 1924
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