Tag: ingratitude

1 Corinthians: That There Be No Divisions Among You (XV)

Unity And Israel’s “How Not To” Example (10:1-14)

Neal Pollard

The past is a valuable teacher. Often, we look back and are humbled at how much our forefathers achieved with relatively fewer resources and opportunities. Society often reflects back and sees ancestors who appear to have been more moral and righteous, and we decry our comparative spiritual decline. We say, “These things would not have happened back then.” Well, Paul reminds us that sometimes we should look to the past as an example of how not to behave. If you take the generation of Jews who were part of the wilderness wandering, you have a people so faithless and disobedient that God washed His hands of them.  Yet, Paul warned that some of their traits and tendencies could taint the thinking and actions of the Christians at Corinth.

Disunity Arises When We Ignore Our Blessings (1-5)

Israel had every spiritual advantage they needed to succeed. God was leading them (1). He did so through Moses (2) and Christ (4). God provided for their every need (3-4). Despite this, they displeased God (5a).  Every congregation of God’s people ought to seriously reflect on how much God has blessed us. He has given us a perfect Word to lead and guide us. He gives us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He gives liberally (Jas. 1:5,17). We fail and fall short despite our advantages, not because of them. 

Disunity Arises When We Give In To Our Flesh (6-11)

Paul enumerates the divisive behavior of these wandering Jews. They craved evil things (6; Num. 11:4), were idolatrous, worshipping pleasure and comfort (7; Ex. 32:4-6), were sexually immoral (8; Num. 25:1ff), tried the Lord (9; Num. 21:5ff), and grumbled (10; Num. 16-17). Notice the spectrum of immoral behavior they put on display. Also notice God’s strong response to it. They fell and were destroyed (8-10). As their next generation learned, a congregation cannot thrive with unchecked sin in the camp (Josh. 7). Paul had just made that point with Corinth earlier in the letter (1 Cor. 5). It is vital to remember something Paul told Galatia: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (5:24-26). Israel shows us how to rise above the call of our flesh (11). 

Disunity Arises When We Mishandle Temptation (12-14)

Churches are full of people, which is also to say full of sinners. Christians are pardoned, but not perfect. How do we properly handle the temptations that can plague us and prevent our unity?

Be humble (12). How often do we personally fail when we consider ourselves immune from and impervious to temptation? The emphasis of our preaching, teaching, fellowship, and relationships within the body ought to be sober vigilance (1 Pet. 5:8) and active resistance (1 Pet. 5:9; Jas. 4:7) regarding the Tempter. We also must honestly view our own tendencies and understand we are prone to be weak and willing in the face of temptation (Jas. 1:13ff). Spiritual giants so great as David, Solomon, and Peter fell hard by giving in to temptation. So, the counsel is wise to “let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 

Avail yourself of God’s help (13). These are some of the most comforting words in all of Scripture. You are not alone nor are you the first to encounter this temptation. You always have a door of escape, if you will take it. The temptation is not bigger than you and God! How could it be? The key to this principle is that “God is faithful.” Maybe it does seem bigger than you. It is never bigger than God. 

Run (14). You won’t escape if you hold hands with, embrace, and nurture that temptation. Joseph didn’t just stand there with Potiphar’s wife. He didn’t ease away or even walk. He fled. Some sins are more subtle than sexual sins, and Paul deals with a variety of behaviors. We must build our conviction to handle temptation in all areas the same way. Get away from it as quickly as possible!

Congregations full of people committed to Christ’s standards of ethics and morality, in speech, attitude, and conduct, rise up together and do great things. Unity is disrupted and prevented, though, when sin runs amuck among us. We have an individual and collective responsibility to imitate Christ and those who effectively model Him (11:1). We also do well to see how not to do it, too! 

Are You Grateful?

Neal Pollard

Jesus asked a lone, appreciative soul, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine–where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18). They were terrified (13), terminal (12), transformed (14), but they were not thankful. They were saved, but to what end? They were selfish and not spiritual. God made them whole, and what did they do? They blended into the world when they should have blessed The Word.

Ingratitude increasingly characterizes man’s interaction with man–the etiquette of thank you cards is rarer, the feelings of loyalty and appreciation for the American military and first responders is waning, and many have forgiven themselves of the debt owed to generations past whose sacrifice has led us to national plenty. This is not all-inclusive and at times there are spikes of improvement and pleasant, positive change toward greater thankfulness.

Yet, since the time when Christ’s sandals kicked up dust in Palestine, people have failed to show gratitude to Him. that the ingratitude comes from those whom He saved from the devil’s disease and death is remarkable! Yet, we all struggle with that sin.

New Testament writers point out how grave an error ingratitude is. Paul warned about the “ungrateful” (2 Tim. 3:2) who would ultimately make no spiritual progress. God rejects as foolish and futile those who “glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21). Someone may ask, “Why make such a big deal about something so seemingly minor?”

Is it minor? If we’re not thankful to God, one or more things have occurred. (1) We are convinced there is no eternity and it’s all about here and now. (2) We have forgotten how it felt to be forgiven. (3) We believe that everything is about us and nothing is about anyone else, let alone God. (4) We have come to believe that sin is just no big deal. (5) We think we owe everything we have and are to no one but ourselves. No doubt, more answers could be postulated, but here is the bottom line. A failure to thank God for His abundant blessings makes one in more dire condition than any leper ever was. We may not be losing our extremities, our hair may not be turning bleach white, we may not have painful sores, and we may not be social outcasts. But, here is what has happened. Our heart is cold, our soul is endangered, we’re in denial, and we’re blinded to the realest of realities.

Won’t you say with David, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 100:4-5)? Stop and think how much you owe to God. Translate that gratitude into godly servitude. Give Him your best. Give Him yourself. Give Him your thanks. 

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