QT 2/18/2025 1 Cor 1:10-17, Spiritual gifts abounding but not spiritual maturity

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 (ESV) —

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

 

NOTE: They are blessed with all the spiritual gifts, and, it seems, a fair amount of pride. There is no spiritual gift of humility. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit (i.e., related to patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness, but not listed), which is a result of maturity in Christ. You can have spiritual gifts when you first come to Jesus, but you can't have fruit until you have matured in Christ. The fruit includes love as the first item. In Peter's second letter, he describes a progression of spiritual maturity, adding one quality to another (I believe it is a cyclical progression that we continue to go through at deeper and deeper levels). The last thing to add in Peter's progression is love. When you truly love, you're not worried about who is the most important or who was discipled by who. You don't quarrel, but gently instruct and pray. This Corinthian church is very immature in its faith as seen in the quarreling over things related to pride. What a sad testimony to a church!

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a spiritual pride problem?
2. Am I always trying to make myself known for my accomplishments or teaching?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I have a spiritual pride problem. I notice it more and more as I grow older. But I also notice an ever-growing lack of caring that people know my accomplishments -- that is good. I want to be more quiet and more interested in others. Those days of pushing myself up are fading, and that is a good thing. Continue to help me to mature in humility.