July 4
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MANIFESTATIONS OF THE FLESH
And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? 4 For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
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In this letter of Paul to the Corinthian church, he expounds on what it is to manifest the flesh in our lives. He reminds them of the difference between spiritual people and those who walk in the flesh constantly. He likens our Christian walk to an infant and the milk or drink that the baby needs in order to fully develop in their faith. In verse one, he reminds the family of believers that he was in a way limited to grow their faith. Just like an infant cannot be give solid food if they can only handle milk to nourish them. Because they are still living in the flesh, they still do not have the ability to take in solid spiritual truths. In verse 2, that was what he was speaking about when he said that he gave them only what they can handle. Many believers get stuck in this process of growing because some of us continue to feed our flesh and not walk in the growth that the Holy Spirit leads us to take.
In verse 3, he gives them the reason why they are still stuck in their growth. He says that because they are still manifesting the natural tendencies of ordinary people. He mentions one sure sign of this bent tendency towards the flesh which is jealousy and strife. He makes them aware that jealousy and strife is a sure indication that they have been feeding their natural cravings which is always wanting to gratify the self. He likens those who engages in these acts of jealousy and creating strife to ordinary people. What is Paul referring to when he addresses these kinds of people? To be ordinary would mean that in the natural, we are weak and sinful. So, Paul refers to that part of ourselves that has a bigger propensity to go with the flesh rather than the Spirit.
In verse 4, he addresses the trivialities that the ordinary person would be inclined to do, they tend to compare with each other and also compete which one has the better apostle or disciple preaching to them. We, humans are so fallen that we fail to see the spiritual process instead of focusing on carnal things. Believers have their own responsibility to grow in their spiritual walk themselves. This is part of their desire to serve the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why should we be aware of the flesh tendency to hinder our spiritual growth?