Tag: jealousy

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1 Corinthians

Gifts given to unite, not divide

1 Corinthians

As I read this passage, I can’t help but think that Paul still had in the back of his mind the problems of division within the Corinthian church.

He had already dealt with it twice in this letter, and though he doesn’t specifically criticize the Corinthians for being divided about spiritual gifts, I think he saw a very real danger of that problem seeping into the church.

I can hardly question his judgment because we see that kind of division today.

So from the very beginning, he makes clear that our gifts should not be used to divide the church but unite it.

He says,

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this before, but we see the Trinity in the gifts of the Spirit very clearly here.

Different gifts, same (Holy) Spirit.

Different kinds of service, same Lord (Jesus).

Different kinds of working, same God (the Father).

And I think Paul’s point was that just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have different functions and yet remain the one God, so our gifts may be different, but we should remain one as a church in heart and mind.

He makes this crystal clear in the very next verse, saying,

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Notice here that the gifts are not given to us for our own personal benefit, as most gifts are. Rather, each gift was given to us to benefit the people around us, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

And so once again, there should be no selfishness in our thinking when we consider the gifts of the Spirit. Rather, we should always be thinking, “How can I use these gifts God has given me to benefit others?”

What does this mean for us practically? There’s no room for pride or jealousy when it comes to spiritual gifts.

Paul says on one hand,

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. (1 Corinthians 12:15-16)

Yet some people in their jealousy for others’ gifts act this way.

They get bitter because they don’t like the gifts that God has given them. Or they see others that seem to have the same gift they do but in greater proportion.

As a result, it drives a wedge between them and God and between them and that other person.

Paul then points out the opposite problem,

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Corinthians 12:21)

In this case, people look down on others with “lesser” spiritual gifts or gifting and basically brush them off as being unnecessary or unimportant.

Both attitudes are wrong, and both attitudes bring division in the church. And ironically, it all comes about because of gifts that were meant to unite us.

This is getting long, so I’ll continue this discussion in the next few blogs, but for now, ask yourself, “What is my attitude toward others? Are my attitudes concerning my gifts and the gifts of others causing unity in my church, or division?”

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1 Corinthians

With what we are building up the church

1 Corinthians

It’s interesting pulling this whole passage together. Usually when I have read it in the past, I’ve taken different parts of it and looked at them individually, but I’ve never really read it as a whole.

What is Paul talking about here? He’s talking about how we are building up our churches, and he warns us that we need to be careful how we build.

He reminds us first of all that Christ alone is the foundation of the church. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

But with what do we build on that foundation? The charisma of this pastor or this leader? Jealousy? Backbiting? Pride?

Charisma isn’t bad, but you can’t truly build a church on a pastor’s charisma.

And the rest? It will tear a church apart.

And so as each person, from the pastor all the way down the chain to the newest Christian, does their work within the church, they need to ask, with what materials am I trying to build this church up?

And depending on what we use, we will be judged.

Paul says,

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.

It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

In other words, none of us will go to hell because we fail in the duties that God has given us. But we can lose our reward. And some will literally get into heaven with nothing to show for all they did here on earth.

Why? Their hearts were not right before him. And again, Paul is pointing specifically to hearts of pride, jealousy, and division, things that can destroy the church.

It is with this in mind that he says,

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

The “you”s here are all plural in the Greek.

And Paul is saying, “You Christians collectively are God’s temple.”

Put another way, “The church is God’s temple.” And if we do things that destroy the church, God will bring judgment upon us. If our pride, jealousy, and divisive spirits tear apart the church, God will hold us accountable.

So Paul tells us to get rid of these things. Get rid of the “wisdom” of this world that leads to pride, jealousy, and division.

Instead, embrace the “foolishness of the cross,” that would lead us to be humble and grateful to God, and accepting of those around us.

How about you? Whether you’re a pastor or the newest Christian in the church, you have a part in building up Christ’s church. With what are you building it up?

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Proverbs

Captivated by sin

It’s amazing how often we see adulterous relationships portrayed on TV nowadays. Nobody even blinks at it. And yet, one wonders why people never learn from it.

Even on TV, most times there are negative consequences that come from these relationships. Broken relationships and hurt people at the least, murder at the worst.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show where the person said, “Oh, you slept with my wife? No problem. Please continue with my blessing.”

That’s one of the points Solomon makes here. He says,

Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?

So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished. (Proverbs 6:27–29)

He then expounds on this by pointing out that while a judge may be understanding toward a person who steals because he is starving, nevertheless he will pass judgment and the person will have to pay the price.

How much more will a person try to make another pay the price for sleeping with their wife or husband? They will have no sympathy whatsoever for the person who does so.

Solomon adds,

Blows and disgrace are [the adulterer’s] lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;
for jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse the bribe, however great it is. (33–35)

So Solomon says, “Guard your heart. Don’t go after the adulterous wife, nor the prostitute for that matter.”

For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress preys upon your very life. (26)

In other words, the prostitute will take all your money if she can, and once it’s all gone, so is she.

And if you play with an adulterous wife, you’ll likely pay the price one way or the other. A destroyed marriage and family. Or even a destroyed life through murder or AIDS or other STDs.

But from a broadened perspective, I think the same can be said of the results of sin in general.

Don’t be captivated by sin. Don’t lust after it no matter how attractive it might seem, because you’ll only be scooping hot coals on yourself, and you will be burned in the end.

While sin may look attractive, it will take all we have and utterly destroy us.

Rather, let our hearts be captivated by the One who loved us so much that he took the punishment for our sins on the cross.

Let us seek him daily, and as our hearts become more captivated by him, we will find true love and true life.

Categories
Psalms

Frustrated by the evil we see

Psalms

“What’s the point of following God and doing what’s right, when I’m struggling and so many people I see doing their own thing are prospering?”

So many times we feel that way. We look at all the people doing evil around us, and they seem to be enjoying life, and we compare their lives to our own struggles and we wonder what’s the point of following God.

But in Psalm 37, David gives us words of encouragement as he looks back upon his own life. He writes,

Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong (Psalm 37:1).

Why?

For like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away. (2)

And he admonishes us,

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret — it leads only to evil.

For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. (7–9)

In other words, don’t get angry when you see the wicked around you prospering. Don’t fret about it.

Because when you do, you start to become bitter, and it leads you down a slippery slope in which you are tempted to give up your faith and to start living your own way.

But while evil men will eventually be cut off, you will find blessing if you continue to hope in the Lord.

And so David tells us,

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (3)

Put another way, “Don’t throw away your faith when you see the wicked prospering. Continue doing what is good, and trust that God will reward you.”

He then says,

Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart. (4)

David’s saying here, “Make God your chief desire. Seek him above all things. And if you do, he’ll give you all your heart desires.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean that he’ll give you a new Ferrari if you seek God.

But as you delight yourself in God, some of the things that you once thought were so important will not seem so important anymore. And the things that are truly important, God will bless you with.

Moreover, the gifts he gives will not leave you empty as the things of this world will. In short, if you make God your chief desire, that’s when you’ll find true satisfaction in life.

And so David says,

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (5–6)

You may feel unrewarded, but know that if you commit your way to him, he will not forget. And the day will come when all will see what you have done and praise God.

When you’re feeling jealous of the wicked because of their prosperity, remember:

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous. (16–17)

David then encourages us,

If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. (23–28)

How about you? Are you frustrated by the evil you see? Then remember these words:

Wait for the LORD and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,
but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off. (34–38)

I like that last part. For those who follow God, there is a future. And it is good. But there is no future for the wicked.

So let us not fret over the evil we see. Rather, let us be still, be patient, delight ourselves in God, and put our trust in him each day.

And as we do, we’ll find a life that’s truly worth living.