1 Corinthians 3
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 NIV
How can you tell if you are more spiritual or more worldly? In this passage, Paul mentions jealousy and quarreling as outward signs of being worldly. He gives a more complete list in Galatians 5:19-21: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” Chances are that most of us struggle with at least a few of these problems. Here are some of the most common issues, all of which hinder our spiritual maturation process:
1. Idolatry. An idol is anything or anyone in your life that you put before God. If the majority of your thoughts, time, money and energy are spent on something other than God, then you most likely have a problem with idolatry. God is very clear about how much He despises idolatry: “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming” (Colossians 3:5-6). The best way to avoid letting a person, a hobby, a job, your pride, greed, etc. become an idol in your life is to have priorities and set boundaries. Stand up for them and do not compromise them when given the opportunity. We listened to a sermon that illustrated this point perfectly. The pastor talked about his friend who let his boundaries and priorities slip, leading to very serious consequences. This man started out with a wife, a family, a great job, and he served the Lord as an elder in his church. His life was blessed and he made it a priority to be at church every Sunday. He then got a promotion, which required travelling and missing some Sunday services. He accepted this position, but had to resign as an elder of the church. When the next promotion was offered, he accepted that as well, which meant even more travelling. Pretty soon he was working and travelling so much that he was no longer able to attend church at all. His company was extremely successful for a time, and it seemed as though God was blessing him for his hard work and sacrifice. Over time however, the travelling put a strain on his marriage and his relationship with his children. His company’s success began to wane. He is now divorced with children that no longer speak to him for what he did to their family. He has no church family to support him, and no longer has financial security. The reality is that sometimes it is actually Satan that lures us away from God by giving us money and/or success. Don’t fall for it!
2. Hostility and outbursts of anger. This is a common one that many of us struggle with, but God commands us to keep this in check: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” (James 1:19-20).
3. Jealousy and envy. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). Discontentment is a serious problem that affects us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Focusing on and being thankful for what you HAVE been given is key, as opposed to focusing on what you do not have.
4. Selfish ambition. There is nothing wrong with being focused on and dedicated to a goal, but it is important to continually evaluate your motives for doing it. The Bible stresses the importance of always showing love for God and love for others: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
5. Quarreling, dissension and division. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Apologize. Forgive. Do not hold grudges. Be humble. Speak words of life and encouragement, even when you do not feel like it. Find solutions that promote unity. Let love lead your actions and words instead of your emotions.
We all have areas of our lives that are more susceptible to being worldly instead of spiritual. Ask God for help and guidance in those areas and then make the changes needed to “… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).