The first Corinthians consists of 16 chapters, and the second Corinthians consists of 13 chapters; there are 29 chapters in total. The reason why Paul wrote such long letters were because there were many problems in the church of Corinth.
Paul told the church in Corinth very seriously, “you are still worldly.” What Paul meant was that although the people in that church looked mature by their appearance, they were still acting like children; they were still controlled and dominated by their flesh. There were jealousy and quarreling among the people in the church of Corinth. Why couldn’t they learn their lesson? Why couldn’t they grow up and start eating solid food? Why were they still in need of milk?
People in the church of Corinth were divided. Some said that they followed Paul, so Paul asked, “can God be divided?” Paul also told the people that he planted the seed, and Apollos watered it, but they were doing nothing more than God’s work! They were merely God’s servants. Therefore, it is God who makes it grow that we should follow!
In fact, we are all lands which God has been farming. God loosens the soil, plants the seed, waters it, and makes it grow. God changed our lives so that we are no longer walking toward our doom. Instead, we are now bestowed God’s grace. However, whether we can grow from milk-drinking infants to food-eating adults, and whether we can produce a hundred times what was sown, depend on our willingness to be changed by God.
We are building a house with God, and God has already laid the foundation for us, that is, Jesus Christ. We must all be careful of what and how we build on this foundation, because we all have to answer to God. Our constructions will be tested and judged. When the Judgement Day comes, even our thoughts will be revealed. If you put God at the first place, you are building a house with gold, silver and diamond; your house will not be burnt down by the fire. If so, God will remember and reward you, and He will call you His good and faithful servant. If you consider God dispensable, you are building a house of wood and thatch; your house will be burnt down easily, and everything you have will be gone. If so, although you are still in God’s grace and are still saved, you will not be rewarded.
Everything, even our flesh and lust, will perish someday; only God’s words will last. Some Christians go out with friends on Sunday when they are invited even though they know they should go to church. If you spend your time eating, drinking and playing, you will regret when you see God; “why haven’t I taken God’s words more seriously? Why haven’t I worked harder? Why have I pursued worldly pleasures instead of God?” Please remember that someday you will have to answer for what you’ve built.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit; we are holy and dignified! It is said in the Bible that the church is the body, and Christ is the head. We are all part of this body, and we all have different functions and values. We are all important. We live in Christ, and we know that He is the only true God in the universe, so we need to serve Him with all our might.
We should grow up, because we are the farms of God, and the house God build; our prosperity and dignity are visible and distinguishable. In the same way, our churches train and equip us; our good qualities are also visible. We should become the valuable vessels of God! We should spread the Gospel and introduce people to the God that can change and cultivate their lives. We should help change the lives of others and let God’s glory show in His churches.
