1 Corinthians 3:21-23 -- Open Sight

 

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

 

NKJV

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

 

NLT

So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

 

“Paul has just pointed out that some human efforts won’t stand the fires of God’s judgement (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).  Scripture also clearly warns of the dangers of false teachers (Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Peter 2:1).  But when teachers of truth differ only in name, or style, or emphasis, it’s counter productive to bicker about which one deserves more loyalty.”  ~ bibleref.net

 

When I worked for a cutting horse place, we had some pretty famous people that came to the shows.  Some of the others that I worked with were a bit awestruck.  Maybe, at a certain level I was too.   But the one thing I remember most about those famous people was how poorly they rode their horses.  This wasn’t what they did for a living, so I believe they put minimal effort into knowing how to do it right.

 

I think there are a couple things to learn here. 

 

First, in my book anyway, how much effort do we put into our walk with Christ?  Are we relying on our pastors to “feed us” on Sunday and then we don’t think about Christ again until the next Sunday?  The verses today say that “everything belongs to you”, meaning that once we accept Christ; everything we need to learn about the bible is ours.  Everything is ours because Christ is in us, we have the freedom to learn; the freedom to overcome what the world throws at us.  We are not slaves to our flesh!

 

Secondly, and this ties right into it, let’s not glory in men.  Not even in Godly men, because they’re just men and they will fail us.  Only God cannot fail.  Are we more excited about being with the influential and famous of this world than about being with God?  Our answer to this question should bring us to our knees.  If we answer yes, then we should hit our knees and put Christ first in our lives.  If the answer is no, then we need to hit our knees and thank God for His presence and His leading.

 

Can you accept the freedom that living in Christ brings?

 

Seeing with open sites,

cej