1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.
Paul thrusts into a section of corrective teaching in this
chapter because of the scandalous divisions occurring within the body of Christ
at Corinth. Their conduct towards each other exhibited the sensuality of unsaved
people, causing spiteful jealousies and contention to divide the body of
Christ. When Christians act like the unsaved, it blemishes their testimony,
impedes their spiritual growth, and causes the Holy Spirit to be squelched in
their lives or lamented by their actions.
The Christians at Corinth
should have been maturing in grace, growing in the faith, accepting the strong
meat of God's Holy Word, and prepared to support each other. Still, their
worldly actions and prideful mindsets caused them to backslide into spiritual
immaturity. Instead of relishing in the Lord and the wonders and grandeurs of
His grace, these sophisticated believers immaturely argued about the virtue of
their favorite preacher. Rather than boasting in Christ Jesus, the supplier of
all blessings, they occupied themselves in immature disputes about worldly
issues.
Far from demonstrating
judicious discernment, they engaged in inter-congregational squabbles and petty
differences that identified a fleshly mindset rather than the wise, discerning
heart of a man or woman walking in spirit and truth. Their imprudent behavior
indicated that of the unsaved instead of mature followers of Christ Jesus. The
Corinthians Christians revealed their worldly behavior when they espoused
worldly wisdom, which is foolishness in God's eyes and showed forth a fleshly
behavior instead of a sincere devotion towards God. The Apostle Paul indicated
that their worldly actions had darkened their testimony for Christ Jesus.
Let us all seek the
direction of Christ Jesus in and through the Holy Spirit of God and avoid these
immature disputes that critically divided the body of Christ at the Church in
Corinth. This worldly behavior can do nothing to enhance the brotherhood and
sisterhood of a church but can cause splits and divisions that can take many
years to resolve and, in the meantime, lessen the work that Christ Jesus has
laid out for all His children. Let us all determine in our hearts and souls to
avoid disputes such as the ones in Corinth. Let us commit to living our lives
surrendered to Christ Jesus and avoid falling into the evil traps and snares
that Satan has set out before us.
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