A Steward's Heart (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Followers of Christ should have both servants’ hearts and stewardship mentality.

Christ Himself illustrated a servant’s heart through the well known story of His washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:5-14). He told them—and He tells us—“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

It’s not necessarily our natural inclination to be so selfless. We tend to think about what we want, what we need, what will fulfill our desires. But if our Savior was willing to take on flesh to provide for our salvation, can we do anything less than humble ourselves to serve others. In the same letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (vv. 5-8).

We’re also to have a stewardship mentality. And, in reality, this should be easier for us than having a servant’s heart. Why, you ask? Because nothing we have, nothing we are, is ours. Nothing.

The Bible tells us that God is the owner of everything. Psalm 24:1 says that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” In other words, there is nothing on this earth, including us and our “stuff” that isn’t the Lord’s. It’s all His.

And if this is true—and it is—we’re merely managers or stewards of God’s stuff. Think of it this way: You’re an employee for someone. How do you treat the property, equipment, and materials of that employee? Do you break things? Overspend the budget? Disregard the rules and regulations? Or do you take care of the equipment you’ve been given? Stay within budget? Honor the rules and regulations?

I hope it’s the latter.

We’re blessed with so much, and we need to be good stewards of what God has given us.

And we need to treat others with servants’ hearts.

It’s the least we can do.

"Wisdom" of the World (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

My goodness … I’m not sure where to start with these verses. Paul was able to put so much truth in just a few words, and I’m not even close to being as articulate as he was!

But I’ll try. With the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, I’ll try.

First, Paul writes that the “wisdom of this world is foolishness.” I’d have to agree. We live in a world of instant information. If you want to know something about anything, you just have to Google it. You’ll have more information than you could ever possibly want … or need.

There’s just one problem: You can never be absolutely sure that the information you’re getting is accurate. This is something I tell my students all the time. Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s right. And just because something is print doesn’t mean it’s right either. We have to discern truth.

This is even more critical when we’re dealing with life and death matters such as faith. Religions and belief systems abound. So many in our world want to believe in something. So they pray to the universe or to plants or to a god of their own making. They believe they’re wise, but they’re really quite foolish.

Real wisdom comes from God, and He reveals Himself and His will through His word. That’s where we find truth. That’s where we find wisdom.

After all this talk about wisdom and foolishness, Paul throws in a wonderful assurance: “you belong to Christ …” When we believe in the God of the Bible, when we’ve accepted His gift of grace, we become part of His family. We are part of the body of Christ.

Reminders such as this make my day!

God's Temple ... You! (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a temple of God. You are the very dwelling place of Christ and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. God Himself resides in you.

Have you ever stopped to think—really think—about what this means? That God Himself chooses to make a home in you?

I don’t know about you, but I feel overwhelmingly grateful that God sees me as worthy of His living in me. In spite of the choices I made, in spite of the years of rebellion, in spite of my current failings, God sees me as worthy.

I wrote yesterday about how my husband and I watched our house being built, but before that, we looked at model home after model home in order to find just the right house for us. One that was “worthy” enough for us to live in. And that’s such a minor comparison to the Lord of the universe finding me worthy.

But I don’t just feel grateful, I feel tremendously convicted. If my body is the temple of God, then what am I doing to “maintain” it? Am I keeping it pristine and pure? Am I making sure it’s healthy and strong? And what about my mind? Am I filling it with things that edify and strengthen?

Or am I failing to keep my body strong by not exercising or eating poorly? Am I dwelling on things that “true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8), or am I focusing on the things of this world?

If Christ were coming to visit your home today, what would you do to prepare for Him? You should do the same for your body, the very temple of God.

A Firm Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

When my husband and I bought our current home over 12 years ago, we had the privilege of watching it be built from the ground up. Every weekend or so, we’d drive out from Anaheim to Corona (now Eastvale) to see what was new and different.

Of course, the first thing the builders did was to lay the foundation. They poured the slab, and then it took a while before they began to frame the house. They had to make certain the foundation was sound in order to make certain the house would be sound.

Once the foundation was as solid as a rock, they framed the house, using the right materials and making careful measurements. Bit by bit, a house was built. And it stands, solid and strong.

It’s the same with our Christian lives. First, we have to make certain our foundation is sound, and for believers, our foundation is our faith in Jesus Christ. But even with a sound foundation, our “houses” may not be as solidly built as they might be.

If we’re building our faith with regular time in God’s word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers, then our faith grows strong and vibrant. If, however, we’re not really even building our faith at all, then it stagnates.While we can never lose a sincerely-sought salvation, we may miss out on what God truly desires to do in and through us.

So first, what’s your foundation? Have you sincerely committed your life to Christ?

Second, how are you “building” your spiritual “house”? Serving God? Serving others? Meditating on His word?

Lay the right foundation, and build a solid house. One that will live on and will leave a legacy.

Sowing Seeds (1 Corinthians 3:4-9)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:4-9

I consider myself a seed planter. I speak quite often, and every time I speak, I talk about the good news of salvation through belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. I talk about living to serve God and grow in faith. And I usually give those attending the opportunity to accept Christ.

However, I don’t always see the results. In other words, I don’t always see someone come to faith every time I speak. When I first started my ministry, I have to admit, I felt like I was doing something wrong. Was I not eloquent enough? Did I share the gospel clearly? Was my own faith lacking?

I’d go to other events, and when the speaker gave the “altar call,” there always seemed to be someone—or many someones—who accepted Christ.

Then I found these verses. Some people plan the seeds, and some water. Some even get a chance to “reap.” But no matter what, God is the one who provides salvation. He is the One who offers grace and mercy.

I am merely a “fellow worker” with others, and I must do my part.

Occasionally, someone comes to faith the very first time they hear the gospel message. Often though, it takes hearing the truth repeated times. So who’s to say that someone who makes a decision to follow Christ didn’t hear God’s words through me first, and that’s the seed that grew so one of my “fellow workers” could reap.

We’re all in this together, and God uses each of us as He sees fit.

And again, the only thing I must do is do what He’s called me to do. And you must do the same.