1 Corinthians 3:1-4 

¹Brothers 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. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

Unforgettable Memories

For obvious reasons, many people want wedding ceremonies in summer. The flowers bloom, it’s warm outside, and it’s great time to take memorable wedding pictures. They take pictures by the lake and they’ve got unforgettable memories.

Christians or non-religious people get married to enjoy each other and have lifetime companionship. But some couples don’t want to raise children. Why do they get married but do not desire to raise children? Was their childhood not very pleasant experience? Or, do they simply avoid the responsibility of parenthood?

Trivia: What is the first command of the Lord to humanity? Together, let’s reflect on what it narrated about mankind in Genesis 1:27-28, ²⁷God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ²⁸God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Think about it. If married couples plan not to have children, do you consider that as violation to the first command of God to humanity? Did God cause them to avoid parental responsibility? How about couples who desire to have children but cannot have children? Did God prevent them from having children?

It says in Psalm 127:3, ³Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from him.

How do you interpret that? Personally, how do you cherish a gift? If the gift comes from someone you respect, you cherish it and keep it, maybe. How do you value a reward? If you feel glorious about it, you display your reward on pedestal, maybe. So, if children are a gift from God, if children are a reward from him, should parents not cherish the gift of God and value rewards from the Lord?

Well, not everyone could readily accept it because such spiritual reality can only be discerned and accepted through the Holy Spirit. It is by faith in God that we can accept that human life is a gift of God. If human life comes from God, it is also proper to rely upon the Lord so that we live as humans our life to its fullness.

1.  Human Life

¹Brothers 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. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

Milk is the very basic food for infants. Milk has enough nutrients for infants to grow faster. Experience proves that it is not pleasant situation to swallow solid food that was not chewed. You could choke yourself. Likewise, infants have no teeth to chew and grind solid food. It’s not advisable to give solid food to infants.

Apostle Paul considered the Corinthian Christians as mere infants in their faith in Christ because their behavior and lifestyle were still worldly. To behave according to the teaching of Christ and to set aside worldly behavior, it exhibits spiritual growth. Together, let’s reflect meditatively on 1 Peter 2:2, ²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

Sacrifice

Instinctively, newborn babies crave for milk and desire the embrace of their mother also. Infants can be hungry almost every two hours. Waking up every two hours is not very desirable, but mothers wake up every two hours at night just to feed their babies. For lack of good night sleep, mothers sacrificed their health because they love their children. May God bless mothers for their sacrifice!

Why do mothers sacrifice so much to care for infants? Surely, infants won’t understand yet; they cannot appreciate yet the sacrifice of their mothers. Even when infants are still in the womb, mothers lovingly care for their children.

Similarly, God showed his love for us, even before we were yet to be born again. Together, let’s reflect on what it says in Romans 5:8. ⁸God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God provided solution for the forgiveness of sins, even before we commit sin. Christ sacrificially died before we came into this world. By faith, we believed and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we’re born again spiritually. And, God sent his Holy Spirit into us to assure us that we are born again in Christ.

If you believed and accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you’ve been born spiritually. Are you born again in Christ? How do you practically know that you are born again? Infants crave for milk; likewise, spiritually infants born again believers crave for spiritual milk. Do you crave for spiritual milk?

Personally, how do you interpret Philippians 2:12-16? ¹²Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ¹⁴Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life.

The word of life, the Scripture is spiritual milk that nourishes our salvation. The Holy Spirit causes us to crave and follow the word of life so that we may live a pure and blameless life. Thankfulness prevails in us if we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. How? We promote harmony, not quarrel or argument.

Naturally, humans desire worldly attraction and disregard godly behavior.

2. Human Desire

³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 

Human beings choose worldly behavior naturally. Jealousy and quarrels are worldly behavior. When spiritual things are desired and prioritized, it’s practical proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit of Christ in our life. Yet, church attendees quarrel; the church is divided subsequently. Why is that? Is it because we’re still worldly? Or, is it because human desires prevail in us instead of godly desires?

How do you interpret and explain to ordinary believer what Psalm37:4 say? ⁴Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

To delight in the Lord is most exhibited pragmatically when we obey him with fear and trembling, and he gives desires in our heart. Practically, what desire of heart that God gives when we delight in obeying him? Is it worldly or godly?

God grants desires for us to experience betterment and fullness of life. In comparison, our human sinful nature desires and enticed by worldly attractions.

Million Dollar Scam

These days, you may have received scam e-mails saying, “You are randomly chosen to win $1 million dollar Lottery!” It is too good to be true, and to block it in the future, you would move such scam e-mail into the spam folder or section.

Just for illustration sake. Imagine if someone generously give you a million dollars without any string attached. How do you spend such huge amount of gift?

It is instinctive tendency to buy a dream house, dream car or spend in leisure and gratify the self. Personally reflect on what it says in James 1:17, ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.

How do you interpret this spiritual truth? Does it imply practical gifts? What are perfect gifts you wish to receive? As practical proof of delight in the Lord, we obey him, and he grants us good and perfect gift. Can you believe it?

God has given us many good things. How could we show appreciation to his gift for us? Pertaining to his return Christ told a parable in Luke 19:12-15, ¹²A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ ¹⁴But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ ¹⁵He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

This parable teaches what Christ does when he returns. Are you aware?

It is human instinct to oppose the lordship of Christ over humanity. They do not want to become servants of the King of kings. Christ is our creator but not everyone can acknowledge such spiritual truth. Why? Spiritual realities can only be discerned and understood through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Christ mentioned that the noble gave money to his servants and not to all his subjects, and then he required accounting to what he gave to his servants.

Do you consider yourself as servant of God? If so, you have been given spiritual gift. Preaching, serving, teaching, giving, to encourage, to lead diligently, to show mercy are spiritual gift given to believers so that we delight in the Lord. When we actively use our spiritual gift, we delight with fullness of life. In contrast, frustration and disappointment is experienced if human instinct prevails in us.

3.  Human Instinct

⁴For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian Christians that they were still infants in their faith in Christ because they’re divided apparently. Some of them preferred to follow Paul, others preferred Apollos. Paul and his mission team started the church in Corinth. After Paul and his team left the church in Corinth, Apollos served as regular preacher in Corinth. Apollos was a very eloquent speaker.

Probably, those who preferred to follow Paul were the original members of the church, while those who preferred Apollos they did not personally know Paul; they joined the church when Apollos served as regular preacher. Quarrel and division on who they prefer as their leader were generational problems in the church from the first century Christianity until now. Human desire is always in conflict with godly behavior. We have to be filled with the Holy Spirit always.

We are instructed in Ephesians 5:15-20, ¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is godly command. Does it mean that if we are not filled with the Holy Spirit, we violate the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Yes! It is wise to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The result of being filled with the Holy Spirit is grateful rejoicing and singing from the heart in everything.

Life on earth is infected with many difficult struggles but we can still give thanks and make music to the Lord when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. There is enthusiasm as compared to frustration, despair, depression or disappointment.

Graduation

One graduating student named Lydia talked about her faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ at her high school graduation. As a high school student, she lost her mother and her outlook in life completely changed.

“When tragedy struck my life, the only person that I could depend on to stay the same was Jesus Christ. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll be successful because God promises that his grace is sufficient for us and that his power is made perfect in our weaknesses,” she testified.

Everyone will face difficulties. God allows difficulties to assess our outlook in life. God in his loving ways allows trials to help us evaluate our spiritual growth. The more we grow mature spiritually, the tougher or testing could be. Just as infants need milk to grow, we need spiritual milk to grow spiritually mature. Regularly read the word of God to nourish your spiritual life.

Be wise and always seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Christ declares in John 16:13, ¹³When Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.

Do you have difficult problem? You are not alone. Everyone has difficulties in life. What can you do? Make sure that you are filled with the Holy Spirit always.

Pray for stronger faith; ask for godly wisdom; seriously seek to be filled with Holy Spirit of Christ until you sense peace and enthusiasm in your heart and mind.

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