THREE FIGURES THAT DESCRIBE THE
                        OBLIGATIONS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

            “Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (I Corinthians 3:9) and “Ye are the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16).  Let us notice the meaning of these things and profit from this study.
           
            1. GOD’S FIELD.  This is the meaning of “husbandry”. This was the field of labor of Paul and Apollos. He stated, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”  Christians are good soil because they hear the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience (Matthew 13:25). However sometimes they have thorns and thistles to come up in their lives and so they need to be weeded and cultivated.  The Lord told us that we should cut off the things that offend us (Matthew 18:8, 9).  He was not talking of the literal eye, hand or foot being cut off in these verses but of those things that offend us of a spiritual nature such as bad talking, social drinking, evil lusts, envy and strife.  These need to be cut off so we will not go to hell. According to the parable of the sower, the thorns will choke out the word and we will bring no fruit to perfection.  In order to bear fruit for the Lord we have to chop out these weeds and thorns that are hindering us from being fruitful Christians. The root of bitterness can come in and do great damage to our souls. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15). The Christian life is a life of temperance which means self control. When we control ourselves we cut off those things that offend.

            2. GOD’S BUILDING. A building needs a good foundation. Paul laid the good foundation which is Jesus Christ. “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11). All must build on Christ or they will be building on an insufficient foundation. All Christians are some kind of material being built upon this foundation. We should take heed what kind of material we are. “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (I Corinthians 3:12, 13).  The kind of material we are is determined by what kind of lives we live. We can be gold, silver, or precious stones and stand the fire of the judgment.  We can on the other hand, by shoddy Christian living be wood, hay, stubble and the fire of judgment will cause us to be burned. The one who taught us can stand and be saved while we are lost because of our slip shod living. It is the life we live that determines our eternal destiny. We are all in the building but just different kinds of material.

            3. GOD’S TEMPLE. The temple is the place of worship and God’s people are to pay attention to some things in order to properly worship. The Apostle said, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (I Corinthians 3:17). We can defile the temple by allowing things to be put into the worship which the Lord did not authorize such as instrumental music.  He told us to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. He did not tell us to play on mechanical instruments of Music in worship to the Lord. We could also corrupt the worship by leaving off things that need to be in the worship such as the Lord’s Supper. We are to partake thereof on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Another way to defile the temple is by a flippant attitude which is to generally not pay any attention to what is going on. This is to be a spectator instead of a participator. Some even become unruly themselves by whispering to one another, passing notes to one another, playing with the children, and in general showing a lack of care and interest. If some people played ball like they worship their team would lose every game. We should be careful to not defile the temple of God by lack of interest in the worship. Also unethical conduct or immoral living defiles the temple of God as well. This serving the Lord is serious business. Be sure to do it right.

            Are you a productive plant in God’s field? A worthy stone in God’s building? Do you bring God glory in his temple?  -C.D.

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