1 Cor.3:6-7- "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."---NKJV
The church at Corinth had serious problems, including doctrinal errors and blatant sexual immorality. Another problem involved personality cults. To put it another way: Some churchgoers were more enthusiastic about specific church leaders/teachers than about the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these leaders/teachers were delighted to receive such adulation---and a few of them preached a false gospel(see 2 Cor.11:12-15).
Fast forward 2000 years. Churchgoers still have a tendency to place fallible human beings on a pedestal and become so enamored with them that Jesus Christ gets pushed to the back burner. The attention and focus (perhaps, even worship) is shifted from the Crucified and Risen Messiah to a successful preacher or compelling church leader.
All of which begs the question: "When things go well for a congregation, who gets the credit?" When finances are solid, when the membership roll is swelling, when churchgoers are breathless with excitement, where is the focus? When a congregation is blessed by God, do the members immediately praise God with thankful hearts? Or, is there an inclination to give all of the credit and applause to an individual or group within the congregation?
You may be thinking:
'Shouldn't faithful Christians be appreciated for their efforts and service?' Yes.
'Are we not to affirm and value other members of the Body of Christ?' Quite true.
'Is it not right to commend Christian servants for doing their best?' Absolutely!
But, let's not elevate faithful servants of Christ to the uppermost place reserved exclusively for Jesus Christ. Let's avoid making idols out of servants!
May we Christians daily give full credit to the Triune God, who gives the increase in accord with his Sovereign Will.
He always is the ultimate source of every blessing. And: He always should be thanked and loved and worshiped.
The church at Corinth had serious problems, including doctrinal errors and blatant sexual immorality. Another problem involved personality cults. To put it another way: Some churchgoers were more enthusiastic about specific church leaders/teachers than about the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these leaders/teachers were delighted to receive such adulation---and a few of them preached a false gospel(see 2 Cor.11:12-15).
Fast forward 2000 years. Churchgoers still have a tendency to place fallible human beings on a pedestal and become so enamored with them that Jesus Christ gets pushed to the back burner. The attention and focus (perhaps, even worship) is shifted from the Crucified and Risen Messiah to a successful preacher or compelling church leader.
All of which begs the question: "When things go well for a congregation, who gets the credit?" When finances are solid, when the membership roll is swelling, when churchgoers are breathless with excitement, where is the focus? When a congregation is blessed by God, do the members immediately praise God with thankful hearts? Or, is there an inclination to give all of the credit and applause to an individual or group within the congregation?
You may be thinking:
'Shouldn't faithful Christians be appreciated for their efforts and service?' Yes.
'Are we not to affirm and value other members of the Body of Christ?' Quite true.
'Is it not right to commend Christian servants for doing their best?' Absolutely!
But, let's not elevate faithful servants of Christ to the uppermost place reserved exclusively for Jesus Christ. Let's avoid making idols out of servants!
May we Christians daily give full credit to the Triune God, who gives the increase in accord with his Sovereign Will.
He always is the ultimate source of every blessing. And: He always should be thanked and loved and worshiped.
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