1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-9
Celebrities abound in today’s culture. Prominent soccer players can create such emotions that fans can begin to riot. Popular musicians have fans who stand with adoration throughout entire concerts. Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood celebrities hire bodyguards to protect themselves from adoring stalkers.
The first-century Corinthian believers had become divided over their own “spiritual celebrities.” Paul viewed such partisanship as a reflection of carnality in a believer’s heart. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” he asked (1 Corinthians 3:4).
Paul said “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Each person did his part: Paul had planted spiritual seed through evangelism, and Apollos had watered it with his eloquent Bible teaching. But it was God alone who made the seed to grow. He alone is the “celebrity.”
We should be careful not to idolize any Christian leader. Instead, let us appreciate how God is using them for His honour and glory.
Each person has his place in God’s service, and only God deserves the glory.
* Lord, help us not to think so highly of our spiritual leaders that we worship them instead of You. This we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
