Category: Devotions

The Apostle Paul shares the secret of his success. He is doing the will of God and so God endows him with wisdom and favour to build-up spiritual lives compared here to a building project. The word “master-builder” literally means “architect”. He speaks of God helping him to preach the gospel and enabling those in Corinth to believe. He laid a good foundation for their faith to grow. But he was not the only one labouring. There is another servant of God Apollos who continued the work where he left off. His concern for the church in Corinth did not cease when he left Corinth to carry on God’s work in other places. He is keenly aware of the strife and division in the Corinthian church and he is writing to defuse that animosity amongst brethren.

The Apostle Paul presents to the believers a proper understanding of God’s servants. They are fellow workers of God cultivating the crops in God’s vineyard. The vineyard belongs to God. The church belongs to God. The believers are God’s people. God’s servants are working together to accomplish God’s will and purpose for the salvation and edification of His church. He alone must receive the glory. With such an understanding, all division and strife will cease. Notice the emphasis of the verse on “God”, repeated three times in the “genitive” signifying “ownership”.

The Apostle Paul shows us that the labourer in God’s vineyard will receive a reward from the Master Jesus when He returns. And the assessment will be made based on the work that the individual does. The planter and the person that waters are both labourers for the Master.

The Christian can be a witness only with God energizing, leading and blessing. Except God will supply His people with life, they cannot prosper. Jesus explains this by the illustration of the Vine to His disciples in John 15:4-7 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

The Apostle Paul explains to the believers in Corinth that God’s is in charge of advancing His work of saving souls and speeding them on in the journey of faith. It is God who by His mercy called him to this work. It was not on his own volition. It is God who directed and bring about spiritual progress in the work of the gospel.

The Apostle Paul is asking a rhetorical question. The answer is “yes.” Some believers in Corinth were indeed spiritually immature, unable to grasp the deeper meaning of Christian consecration involves sacrificial service and devotion.

The Apostle Paul wisely observes the spiritual state of believers in Corinth by describes their tell tales signs of spiritual immaturity. He tells them unapologetically of envying and strife and divisions among them.

The newborn baby like the newborn believer is fed with milk so that it may grow. However, the child that has come of age like the older believer that has come of age must be able to eat meat for his spiritual nourishment. However, the situation is such that for some believers, observed the Apostle Paul, they are unable to take meat even though they have been believers for a time. What is the reason? Spiritually, these believers are not growing. A sad observation.

The Apostle Paul describes the Christians as carnal in that they are spiritually immature. It does not mean they are not saved. He uses the term “babes in Christ” to denote those who are not growing spiritually but are still spiritual babies. It is sad to see malnourished children who are not growing because of the lack of nutritious food intake. He is using this as an illustration to describe those who cannot accept the instruction that a spiritual man will need.