Needing a Makeover?

 

READ 1 Corinthians 9–12

Artists learn several principles that make an appealing painting, such as composition, contrast and center of interest. An art student brought a painting asking for help. She didn’t like it and no wonder; all those principles were ignored, and the only solution was to start over. Sometimes I feel like my life could use that sort of radical renewal.

The new Christians at Corinth were living like pagans. They didn’t need to start over, but they did need to recognize what was wrong and confess it, repent, and be filled with the Spirit so they could be imitators of Christ instead of putting obstacles in the way of the gospel. This section of Scripture gives much instruction. Some highlights include an apparent criticism of how Paul and other leaders earned their living and their motivations for their ministry, the importance of self-discipline, ignorance or ignoring lessons from OT history, and not using the resources God gave them to fight against sin. Paul had to tell them the danger of their pride:

Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:12–14)

He also had to explain that idols were really nothing but that “what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:19–20) So they would realize the danger in their dabbling, He stressed again:

All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:23–24)

He was specific to help these Christians apply this principle: “If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if someone says to you, ‘This has been offered in sacrifice,’ then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?” (1 Corinthians 10:27–29) Their behavior was not showing love toward others, nor did it glorify God:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:31–33)

Furthermore, they needed instruction for their marriages, about divisions between them, and about their practice of the Lord’s Supper which became a selfish indulgence instead of a proper discernment of what Christ had done at Calvary. They were messing it up to the point that he told them:  

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:29–32)

Finally, they were misusing their spiritual gifts. He wrote that “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:1–7) Gifts compare to body functions; all differing in what they do yet all necessary to the body. They could not dismiss anyone as not important, just as an artist cannot say any part of his word ‘doesn’t matter’ because “God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:21–26)

The bottom line is that not all are gifted the same, but no matter — we are to consider “a still more excellent way” and the next chapter talks about the incredible love of God. I’m impressed that this ties to Jesus’ definition of the greatest commandments: love God and love others. I cannot do either one without being filled with the Spirit. Being filled with myself messes up all efforts and requires the same solution every time: confess, repent, and ask the Lord to take over and continue His makeover in my life.