Signs for Life

A Look at 1st Corinthians

Chapter One: Who Do You Follow?

Roca Wear, Fubu, Aeropostale, Apple Bottoms and Hollister all have followers: unique people with unique tastes for differing styles. People choose the brands they wear for various reasons. Maybe they choose them because the brand is popular. Maybe because they like the style it represents. The bottom line is that following a brand is a personal preference. People choose what they like, because they have the freedom to choose.

Can you believe that the Christians at Corinth had great arguments over brands? We’re not talking about clothing brands anymore, instead these people argued about which brand of religion they would follow. See they had personal preferences about the men who were their leaders, some liked the way Apollos spoke, others swore by Paul and others stuck to the roots of the faith and called Peter their leader. These people were in a mess. They had forgotten what their faith was all about. Don’t get me wrong, they wanted their faith, but they wanted it their way, not God’s way.

In this first chapter of the book of Corinthians, Paul opens his letter to this quarrelling group of people by reminding them that they were called to three things that really made them who they were. First, they were called to be holy. When Christ died for these people and they put their faith in Him, God, the Father, no longer saw all their yuck and sin, instead he saw saints, living people that had all the qualities and character that Jesus himself displayed when he walked upon the earth. Second, they were called to be in fellowship with one another. They needed to put aside their personal preferences and follow the truth of God’s word. They were causing fights and divisions in their friendships because of their selfishness that said “I want it my way”. Paul was telling them to grow up, put aside their ways and live God’s way. Third, they were called to be people who brought glory to God, not themselves. The Corinthians were so concerned about boasting about their own wisdom and knowledge, that they forgot that they were supposed to show the world how much greater God’s wisdom and knowledge is. Paul reminded the Corinthians where they had come from. They weren’t rich, famous and all that when Christ found them. They were ordinary, regular people.

Has Christ called you? If He has, what are you choosing to follow? Do the friends you choose to hang out with lead you into places you shouldn’t be? Does your pride get the better of you and cause you to speak up for yourself when you shouldn’t? Do you compromise your character by what you listen to or watch? You have been called to follow Christ, be careful that you are not like the Corinthians.