How to Build Up the Body (1 Corinthians 3:1-23) – Paul shifted his thought from how God used him in spite of his shortcomings and began to focus on the Corinthians and the fights they were having over the different teachers and leaders among them. Paul offered some great principles on how to build up the congregation and create community within the body of believers:
- Put Away Petty Arguments (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food ; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men ?
Paul told the Corinthians that he was not able to speak to them as spiritually mature people because they could not get over there own fleshly desires and get along with one another. When there are arguments among us and we cannot get along then we should not anticipate growth individually or as a body.
- Remember that God, not Men Cause Spiritual Growth (1 Corinthians 3:4-6)
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men ?
5 What then is Apollos ? And what is Paul ? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
Paul had to remind the Corinthians that it was not their teachers or leaders that caused them to grow, it was God. Leaders might be able to facilitate and help us draw closer to God, but He alone is able to grow us spirituality. We must not give credit men with the work of God. This will keep us from squabbling over who is better because ultimately it is God using each to accomplish His purposes.
- Look at Each Other as Teammates (1 Corinthians 3:7-9)
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one ; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers ; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Paul also reminded the church that each leader should be working toward the same goal and purpose and each might have a different role in accomplishing that purpose. When we view each other as part of the same team then we can understand that each of us might be working in different areas, but are all important in accomplishing that which the Lord has given us to do.
- Keep the Gospel the Central Focus (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul told the Corinthians that the foundation of the work of God was Jesus Christ. When we depart from the message of Jesus Christ as Savior and how to grow more intimate in our walk with Him then we lose sight of what is most important in the eyes of God and begin to delve into subjects that will be fruitless and cause conflict.
- Remember that God Will Evaluate Each of Us (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident ; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss ; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Paul told the Corinthians that each person’s work will be evaluated when God judges it. If they had some other motive then bringing others to know Jesus and grown them closer to Him then it would be shown. We need to worry about doing and following right. It is not our job to evaluate everyone else. If we have a disagreement, we can fall back on the fact that God will sort it out and we can focus on doing what He has commanded us.
- Remember that Each is a Part of God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
Paul said that believers together made up the temple of God. When conflict and quarrels cause us to hurt one another we are destroying the temple of God. Out view of others must not be based on how good the person is or how much we like them, but that they are fellow members of the body of Christ.
- Do Not Think Too Highly of Yourself (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS “;
20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”
21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come ; all things belong to you,
23 and you belong to Christ ; and Christ belongs to God.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that men no matter how intelligent or wise or talented has little to boast in comparison to the Almighty God. We need to realize that we are merely human and though we are truly loved by our God, we belong to Him and must understand that we cannot fully understand Him nor His plan.
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