Chapters 1-4 of 1 Corinthians are a unit where Paul takes aim at the divisiveness and fragmentation of the church. This discord was reflected in the alliances they had formed over different teachers. It was all quite competitive—and equally unhealthy.
We tend to align ourselves with someone or something because it reflects our own likes or dislikes. It’s a mark of maturity to be able to embrace and appreciate interests outside our own. The division present at Corinth was to a large degree about their immaturity to do that. Instead, they practiced “me” over “we” (see 3:1-4)—an attitude that always leads to trouble.
As we go deeper into the letter, we’ll see other ways their immaturity and divisiveness manifested themselves—in their inability to practice church discipline (5), the lawsuits they were engaged in against each other (6), their struggle to exercise their rights in loving, thoughtful ways (8-10), their disunity during the Supper (11), and their misuse of spiritual gifts (12-14).
What they needed was a reboot. They needed to stop centering things around themselves and to start centering them around Jesus. What Paul is doing in this section is restoring Jesus to their church.
Sometimes no one needs Jesus more than the church does. But the world is lost without Jesus, someone says. Well, so is the church. Furthermore, it is the church that is supposed to be modeling Him and sharing Him with the world. So, if that’s not happening, then they need Him more than anyone. With that in mind, Paul will refer to Jesus (using the words “Lord,” “Jesus” or “Christ” in some combination) a whopping 34 x’s in the first four chapters! (This emphasis runs throughout the NT where “Jesus” occurs over 1300 x’s. Roll that around in your brain and ask yourself if there is a message for us).
To this end, Paul reminds them in 3:11 that “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Accordingly, when Paul went to Corinth that’s exactly what he did. Luke tells us how “Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord” (Acts 18:8). They didn’t put their faith in Paul, their family, or their friends—they put it in Jesus! If that’s how they came into all the blessings associated with being part of God’s family—why were they now straying from it?
But he’s just getting started.
Paul follows this with words challenging the Corinthians to think about how they and others were building on that foundation—were they using materials consistent with the foundation—or were they trying to use lesser (man-made) materials that wouldn’t hold up?
The truth he wanted them to understand was this: a day was coming when “fire will test the quality of each person’s work” (v. 13). While this certainly would apply to Judgement Day, I’m not convinced this is what Paul has in mind. I think he’s referring to the trials that come into the lives of all disciples (see Acts 14:21-22). Disciples are not promised exemption from the difficulties of life and anyone who believes or teachers otherwise is building with hay and straw. Paul is pushing them to build with hardship in mind.
When bad weather comes, do you want to be living in a shoddy house that was just thrown together wondering if it will collapse upon you? Or would you rather have the security of knowing your house will stand and you are safe inside?
Are we building with hardship in mind? Is our faith going to stand the tests of life that will come our way? What type of materials are we using? Are we trying to build spiritual lives with social media, Disney, Netflix, and ESPN? Or are we getting serious about spending time in prayer, in cultivating community with other disciples, rooting ourselves in God’s word, and reaching out to others?
We know this: the rain will come—it just a question of whether we have built with that in mind (Matthew 7:24-27). Will God reign in the rain?
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 