(text and notes from the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale 1996)
It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7-9
God’s work involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts and abilities. There are no superstars in this task, only team members performing their own special roles. We can become useful members of God’s team by setting aside our desires to receive glory for what we do. Don’t seek the praise that comes from people – it is comparatively worthless. Instead, seek approval from God.
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Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
- 1 Corinthians 4:6-7
Don’t let your loyalty cause strife, slander or broken relationships. Make sure that your deepest loyalties are to Christ and not his human agents. Those who spend more time in debating church leadership than in declaring Christ’s message don’t have the mind of Christ.
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But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
- 1 Corinthians 5:10-11
Paul makes it clear that we should not disassociate ourselves from unbelievers – otherwise we could not carry out Christ’s command to tell them about salvation (Matthew 28:18-20). But we are to distance ourselves from the person who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sins explicitly forbidden in Scripture by rationalizing his or her actions. By rationalizing sin, a person harms others for whom Christ died and dims the image of God in himself or herself.
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You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.
- 1 Corinthians 6:12-13
Many of the world’s religions teach that the soul or spirit is important but the body is not; and Christianity has sometimes been influenced by these ideas. In truth, however, Christianity takes very seriously the realm of the physical. We worship a God who created a physical world and pronounced it good. He promises us a new earth, where real people will have transformed physical lives – not a pink cloud where disembodied souls listen to harp music. At the heart of Christianity is the story of God himself taking on flesh and blood and coming to live with us, offering both physical healing and spiritual restoration. We humans, like Adam, are a combination of dust and spirit. Just as our spirits affect our bodies, so our physical bodies affect our spirits. We cannot commit sin with our bodies without damaging our souls because our bodies and souls are inseparably joined. In the new earth we will have resurrection bodies that are not corrupted by sin. Then we will enjoy the fullness of our salvation.
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Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17
Apparently the Corinthians were ready to make wholesale changes without thinking through the ramifications. Paul was writing to say that people should be Christians where they are. You can do God’s work and demonstrate your faith anywhere.
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Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.
- 1 Corinthians 7:20
We may become so concerned about what we could be doing for God somewhere else that we miss great opportunities right where we are. Paul says that when you become a Christian, you should continue on with the work you have previously been doing – provided it isn’t immoral or unethical. Every job can become Christian work when you realize that it can be an opportunity to honor, serve, and speak out for Christ. Because God has placed you where you are, take advantage of every opportunity to serve him there.
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But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.
- 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul urges believers not to regard marriage, home or financial security as the ultimate goals of life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved with burdensome mortgages, budgets, investments, or debts that might keep us from doing God’s work. A married man or woman, as Paul points out (7:33,34), must take care of earthly responsibilities but make every effort to keep them modest and manageable.
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Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Love is more important than knowledge. Knowledge can make us look good and feel important, but we can all too easily develop an arrogant, know-it-all attitude.
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For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
- 1 Corinthians 8:10-13
When we love others, our freedom should be less important to us than strengthening the faith of a brother or sister in Christ.
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When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22-23
Paul gives several important principles for ministry:
1. Find common ground with those you contact;
2. Avoid a know-it-all attitude;
3. Make others feel accepted;
4. Be sensitive to their needs and concerns, and
5. Look for opportunities to tell them about Christ.
These principles are just as valid for us as they were for Paul.
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The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
In a culture filled with moral depravity and sin-inducing pressures, Paul encouraged the Corinthians about temptation. He said that
1. Temptations happen to everyone, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out;
2. Others have resisted temptation and so can you;
3. Any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out.
God will help you in resisting temptation by helping you:
1. Recognize those people and situations that give you trouble;
2. Run from anything you know is wrong;
3. Choose to do only what is right;
4. Pray for God’s help, and
5. Seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted.
Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. (see 2 Timothy 2:22)
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You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to defer to the weaker believer. Paul gives a simple rule of thumb to help in making the decision: We should be sensitive and gracious. While some actions may not be wrong, they may not be in the best interest of others. While we have freedom in Christ, we shouldn’t exercise our freedom at the cost of hurting a Christian brother or sister. We are not to consider only ourselves; we must be sensitive to others.
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I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
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The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12
Paul compares the body of Christ to human body. Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences they must work together. Christians must avoid two common errors:
1. Being proud of their abilities or
2. Thinking they have nothing to give to the body of believers.
Instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we should use our different gifts, together, to spread the Good News of salvation.
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If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1
Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone.
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Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
Love involves unselfish service to others; to show it gives evidence that you care. Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message; hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves.
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Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
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