1 Corinthians 3:18 -- Be a Fool

 

1 Corinthians 3:18

 

NKJV

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 

 

NLT

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 

 

What!?!?!  To be wise I have to be a fool.  Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?  When you read this in context with the verses around it, Paul is talking about rejecting worldly wisdom as the beat all to end all.  Worldly wisdom will tell you a lot of lies and we must capture each thought that comes into our head and look at it through a gospel lens. 

 

For example, living together before marriage.  The world says go ahead and try it before you buy.  What a lie!  God says that is sin.  We must examine everything that comes before us through the gospel filter and reject the things that are contrary to what God teaches us.  That’s the application of wisdom.

 

Fact is, we can have a lot of worldly wisdom; and there is nothing wrong with that.  It’s important for us to know stuff, to have knowledge.  But what’s more important is for us to have Godly wisdom.  Godly wisdom is the seeking to know God better.  The more revelation we have of God’s Word, the more the world will consider us fools.  I personally think I would rather be a fool to the world than in agreeance with it.

 

Be a fool,

cej 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 -- That Kinda Love

 

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

 

NKJV

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

 

NLT

Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?  God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

 

I believe it is important for us, as believers, to understand, accept and believe that Christ is in us.  We are the temple of God!  1 Corinthians 6:19 says “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” How awesome is that!  Christ dwells in us individually and corporately. Corporately means He dwells in us as a people too!  2 Corinthians 6:16 says “What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people."

 

Here is something to think about, God choose us!  An all knowing, all powerful, all present God chose us as His dwelling place.  Think about that the next time you willingly step into your sin!  I know I will.  His blood has made us able to turn away from all of that, to step into the light and live there.  Choose today to live differently.  Because there is joy in that kinda love!

 

OMNIPOTENT

om·​nip·​o·​tent | \ äm-ˈni-pə-tənt  \

having virtually unlimited authority or influence or one who has unlimited power or authority.

 

OMNISCIENT

om·​ni·​scient | \ äm-ˈni-shənt  \

having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight or possessed of universal or complete knowledge

 

OMNIPRESENT

om·​ni·​pres·​ent | \ ˌäm-ni-ˈpre-zᵊnt  \

present in all places at all times

 

 

likin’ that kinda love,

cej

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 -- Keystone

 

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

 

NKJV

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.  If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

 

NLT

Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.  But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

 

The last two posts seem to have a theme, and I’m going to continue that theme. Verse 10 brought to my mind the Cornerstone, Jesus who shows us how to be level and straight in our lives as believers.  Verse 11 brought to my mind the  Capstone, Jesus is who we are to strive to be like; the “top” of our lives.

 

Today is the keystone.  This is the central stone at the top of an arch that locks the whole thing together.  Jesus Christ is also our Keystone; the One who holds it all together for us as believers.  I think this also means that we must rely on Him and let Him hold us together.  We are not capable in our own power to pursue a life in Christ.  The Holy Spirit reveals that to us and all we have to do is lean into that belief.  I believe that everything we do as followers of Christ; from serving other to studying the Bible holds us together.  It proves that Christ is, and should be, the Keystone of our lives.

 

Held together,

cej

1 Corinthians 3:11 -- CapStone

 

1 Corinthians 3:11

 

NKJV

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

 

NLT

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

 

Capstone
cap·stone [ káp st-n ] cap·stones- Plural (NOUN)
1. Top stone: a stone used at the top of a wall or another structure

Verse 10 brought to my mind the Cornerstone (Jesus Christ), which we should line our lives up with to be sure that we are level and straight with the truth of Jesus Christ.  Today with verse 11, I’m brought to mind a capstone.  According to the definition above, the capstone sits at the top of a structure.  Isn’t that who Jesus should be for us?  The One we put at the top of our lives, the place we are looking to?  If we have Jesus as both our cornerstone and our capstone, then we would be able to stay level with and under His truth and teaching.  That seems do-able…right?

 

I don’t know, that felt a tiny bit rambly!  I guess what I’m saying is that if we keep Jesus as our foundation, the place we get our teachings; in addition to keeping Him as the finishing touch for us (our salvation)…how can we go wrong?

 

Capstoned,

cej

1 Corinthians 3:10 -- Cornerstone

1 Corinthians 3:10

 

NKJV

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 

 

NLT

Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

 

Cornerstone:  Usually the first stone laid in a building, all other stones are aligned with this one.  Great care was made to lay this one straight and level.

 

Paul was talking about the building of the church in Corinth, but I want to bring this to what we know the church is.  The church is us; you and me. Paul tells us that we are to take heed on how we build it.  In short, we must pay attention to what we put in it.  A really exceptional home builder uses all of the best material they can get, they don’t take any short cuts and they don’t use inferior material.  They do their very best to make sure things are level and straight.

 

I think this continues the theme from yesterday, for me.  If I am putting inferior (ie: sinful) things in my life, willingly, then I can rest assured that what is being built will not hold up.  Build your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Take heed, be very careful to only put in your life the things of Christ.  Pursue Him relentlessly!  As believers in Christ, we have been given the freedom from the power of sin.  We just have to choose to live in that freedom!

 

Resting on the Cornerstone,

cej

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 -- Harsh

1 Corinthians 3:8-9

 

NKJV

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 

 

NLT

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.

 

As I have read these two verses over and over, trying to figure out what I’m supposed to say…it finally struck me.  I think this (for me anyway) is about what I’m planting.  The person watering and the person planting are the same, in that they are working for the same results.  But I’m more struck about what I’m planting at this moment.

 

If I’m planting sin and deceit, then it really doesn’t matter who comes behind me to “water” the field.  You might ask yourself, what does that mean, sin and deceit?  To me, it means when I know that I’m doing the wrong thing, and as a believer; on some level…you know.  Then it’s sin.  I cannot, and should not, sell it any other way. 

 

Do I tell lies, then I’m a liar and that’s sin.  Do I look at porn, then I’m an adulterer and that’s sin.  Am I living with someone outside of marriage, then I’m a fornicator and that’s sin.  The world is leading us down a road of destruction, telling us that sins like these (and rest assured there are many more) aren’t hurting anybody.  We must quit falling for the lie.  What are we planting for future generations?  A world where we have the attitude that if it feels good…just do it?  If we don’t start acting like what we plant matters, then there will be hell to pay.

 

Wow!  That seemed harsh, but I wonder if we need the harsh at times?  Let’s plant something for the person behind us to water…that they don’t have to clean up first.  Seek holiness and purity, live for God so you can love like God!

 

Harsh, but I love you.

cej

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 -- Head down, chopping weeds

 

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

 

NKJV

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

 

NLT

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.  It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 

 

When I was a little kid, we had this great big garden.  Huge in my little eyes.  Probably an acre.  Me and my brother used to argue over who was doing the most work.  I’m pretty sure we spent more time leaning on the hoe, arguing than we did actually working.  Until Dad showed up, then he would tell us to get to work and quit fighting.  If we had spent more time chopping weeds than arguing….we would have  been a whole lot more productive.  Dad used to say, “those weeds aren’t going to chop themselves, bend over and get to swinging that hoe!” 

 

I have learned something from that as I’ve gotten older.  All the time we spent fighting and arguing, the weeds were growing.  Choking out the fruits and vegetables that we really wanted.  We also wanted the badge of who was the hardest worker.  We didn’t really care about what was going to be harvested, we just wanted the title.

 

As Christians we all have different roles and responsibilities.  Our job is to not get caught up in the titles, but to put our heads down and chop at the weeds.  It doesn’t matter who planted the seed; or who watered the seed; or who chopped at the weeds.  All that matters is that God is glorified because He gives the increase.

 

Head down, chopping weeds.

cej