1 Corinthians 1 God Uses Weak Ones
This chapter begins with
Paul responding to a letter from the household of Chloe, a respected woman. The
church in Corinth, established by Paul where he ministered for eighteen months
(making tents during the week and preaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath),
was in serious trouble. There were
experiencing immorality, suing each other in court and behaving with improper
use of their spiritual gifts.
Corinth, the capital of
Achaia, was probably the richest and most important city in Greece and the main
city for trade between Italy and Asia.
It was famous for its immorality.
The church was constantly influenced by the reputation of the people and
city in which they lived.
Paul pleaded, “that you
come short in no gift; be blameless; that there be no divisions among you, but
that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment.” (Vs. 7, 8, 10)
Paul reminds the Corinthian
church and us today that we are called, just as he was. Vs. 1, 9 Paul, called….
through the will of God. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This group got swept
away by the world. Have we too allowed
the “Corinthian” influence and false philosophies of our world to pull us away
from our true calling? Having been so loved by the Father, can we not feel
deeply humbled and encouraged to minister love and forgiveness to all those
around us.
Paul also draws to our
attention the need to not follow man, but God alone. When He is truly preeminent
in our lives, we will glory in Him alone.
Vs. 29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.
It is not the worldly
powerful figures that God chooses to use.
Vs. 26, 27 For you see your calling,
brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many
noble are called. But God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak
things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
Dear one, he can use us
even if we are weak ones. We are called,
we are chosen. Let us not fall short in
our gifts to serve Him.
