by Wisdom Hunter, 4/14/2016

 

 

Of all the Biblical books, when I read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, I feel as though he is writing to a culture that I recognize; a world that I know.  It’s truly not claiming too much to say that 1 and 2 Corinthians are Paul’s most relevant letters to our contemporary culture.  Corinth was a major center of commerce and trade.  It was multi-ethnic, pluralistic, and technologically advanced.  And it was very, very rich. 

 

Sometimes it seems like you are a million miles away from Jesus.  It’s as if He’s doing big business on the other side of the world in Africa, India, and China.  Your small concerns seem trivial in the big scheme of our Savior’s strategy.  As in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), your Master has left you to faithfully manage His stuff while He has gone away.  However, you grow impatient, bored; even faint-hearted from fear and/or fatigue.  You wonder if faithfulness to your heavenly Father is really worth the effort; and you question the cause and your calling.  It was exciting when you first started on this journey of faith, but now it is unfocused and uncertain.  You may become melancholy or depressed. 

 

 

When I came to Christ, no one warned me that desires for the things of the world could tug so strongly on my heart.  I had no idea that I would sometimes be tempted to worship many other things and stray from the only One Who was worthy of all of my praise.  And no one told me how God would relentlessly chase me in spite of my fickle affections for Him.