History Repeats Itself

It amazes me how little times have changed. Paul writes a letter to the Corinthian church, to discuss with them the age old problem of divisions in the church. Do you remember that Jesus prayed that believers would be “one as you and I are one” just before He died? Unity should be a hallmark of the Christian church. Instead, often times it is the antonym. I think Satan knows how destructive a unified church can be to his plan- and so he tries to tear it apart as often as possible. I also know that we often fall prey to our own sinful natures and weaknesses. What solutions and encouragement does Paul offer us?

Follow God. The church at Corinth were divided over who was “correct” and who was “greater.” Those who follow Paul, or those who follow Apollos. Paul reminds them that it should be God that they are following. “Who is Paul, Who is Apollos?” Are they not only mere men? Why do we persist in glorifying the created instead of the creator? In giving credit to the men and not the Spirit working in the men? We may think that we don’t do this, but ask yourself- is there someone you look to for answers before God? Is there someone that you trust to come through for you or provide for you above or beyond God? Do you see God as only being able to work through certain people? God is wiser than any man. He is the only one who will NEVER let you down. Believing that wholeheartedly in another mere mortal does nothing but set you up for heartache, disappointment, and broken faith. Not to mention, cause division in the church. As Paul said, “Boast in the Lord, not in man.”

Yield to the Holy Spirit. There is no greater feeling of unity, than being united by the Holy Spirit. If you’ve ever felt it, you know what I mean. You pull together without even having to try. If we listen to the Holy Spirits leading in our lives, we will naturally be united with others following Him as well. Not only that, but our own human weaknesses will no longer matter. God uses the “foolish things of the world to shame the wise...the weak to shame the strong..so that no one may boast before Him.” It all goes back to God and His power and His wisdom.

Build with eternity in mind. Tents and huts are made with fabric, straw and twiggs. Most people don’t intend for them to last very long. They are temporary. The structures we want to last we build with brick, or cement, stone, and stong wood. Those are more costly than fabric, straw or twiggs. It takes more time than setting up a tent. But the protection it affords is much better. In the end, God is going to “test” what we have built our lives with. Did we build with temporary materials, doing shoddy work? Or did we invest in the quality materials, work carefully and a long time to build what will last for a long time? Will God be satisfied with our work?

In the end, I think sometimes the greatest hurdle to unity we have to get past is ourselves. Too often we are looking to our own interests, our own agenda, perhaps even our own ministry, to work for unity in the church. Sometimes the “man” we glorify is ourselves. Jesus said- “If anyone wants to come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” We have all been called to something greater than ourselves. If we can just embrace unity!