1 Corinthians 3:1-4
3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? (The Message)
Paul now returns to the topic he wants to deal with, divisions and quarreling in the body of believers. Paul presents the idea that when we quarrel, we immediately slow down spiritual growth. The people could only be fed milk, baby food, and not meat. Perhaps it is because quarreling takes all our energy and attention and we so not have the time to sit and listen to the Spirit and emotion slows down our ability to process.
Let’s continue along with Jonah. God sent him to Nineveh but Jonah climbed a boat and went the opposite direction. He was arguing with God! He could not grow because he was running and refusing to listen. A storm came and he realized it was his fault and so he confesses and has the sailors throw him overboard. Chapter 2 of Jonah tells of his mental turmoil and struggles as he sunk to the bottom of the sea and realized he was facing death, In verse 2 he shared that he called for help from God and somehow hoped God was listening. By verse 4 he was realizing that if he died he wouls be banished from God’s presence and so as his life was ebbing away he remembered God and prayed. It was then he started rejoicing. The relationship was more important than the difference of ideas about life.
We laugh at Jonah and smirk to think of the size of the fish and diminish the message. I think what Paul was saying and what Jonah teaches is that winning arguments that loose friends or relationships is milk wisdom, not meat wisdom. So perhaps we must ask today if there is a division with someone that is blocking relationship and blocking our walk with the Lord. Be honest! Blesssings.
On the Way to Wonder 