Our passage this Sunday will be 1 Corinthians 3:1-9. Paul is still on the subject of their prideful boasting and divisive quarreling. Where they see themselves as quite spiritual, Paul sees arrested development, “infants in Christ (3:1).”
If they are ever going to grow up, they need to be brought down – humbled. They need to learn the lesson Job learned when God blew his mind with the magnitude of His greatness, leaving him to say:
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth (Job 40:4).”
Paul will remind them (and us) that, while he has chosen to use us and work through us to build His church, at the end of the day, “neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:7).” The path to maturity is humility. The way up is down. Jesus said, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11).”
This Sunday Jason Oakes will be preaching and Walt Harrah will be leading our time of sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? Pray for all who will hear the word preached this week, that we would find great relief and joy in the realization that we are of small account and that the only One who gives the growth would be more highly exalted in our hearts.
See you Sunday. Let’s come hungry!
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