When Paul Leaves: Applications from 1 Corinthians
“What is my role in my local church as those that led me are sent?”
As I write about what I’ve learned in our current series in 1 Corinthians, all I can think about is that my Pauls are leaving me. These are those men that invested in me since the beginning of being saved. I’ve been processing that for the last year or so. My Bible study leader is moving to start a church in a foreign country. My discipler is moving to a postmodern city to be part of a church plant. These men planted the seed of God’s word in my life in 2018, when I did not know the Lord, and ever since then they have continued to water God's Word in me. This begs the question, what is my role in my local church as those that led me are sent? In 1 Corinthians 3:16-23, I find clear instructions and encouragement from the Lord on how to live my life as two men dearest to my heart obey God.
In the context of the investment made in my life by those that planted and God later bringing the increase: what is my life? What am I supposed to do with it at such a young age, especially when the culture tells me to pursue a prestigious career, money, pleasure, and satisfaction in gain? In light of the culture of today, it makes me think of the question that Paul asks the Corinthians after reading about the judgment that will take place on how they spent their salvation, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor 3:16). I’m learning that my life is a temple where God’s Spirit dwells. That ought to impact the way that I do anything. My speech, my thought-life, my ambitions, my finances, and my marriage ought to fall to the worship of God. Since my life is indwelled by the Holy Spirit there is no room for me to live my Christianity for myself. When Jesus our Lord became a man, he spent his time doing what the Father had set him to do. His single-mindedness to live a holy and righteous life, being God but fully man, changed the world as he gave his body to bear my sin. Since I gave up my life the day I was saved, nothing exempts me from following the steps of Jesus, and that is to be a holy temple. I love 1 Corinthians 3:3-4 a passage that reminds me of who I am, where I am, and where my identity is, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
“My Pauls truly lived out their lives knowing that the Spirit of God dwelled in them”
Since my life is in Christ and he dwells in me, I must be true to uphold the convictions in my life. As a young man, I’m learning that God owns me, and he knows best for me. I’ve learned that obeying the convictions that God has set on my heart brings me great peace, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom 8:6). When I fail to ignore and brush off the Spirit’s leading, I quickly realize that I stepped out of bounds. Why is that important? When I married my beautiful wife, I learned that what I do impacts her. Therefore, what impacts her will impact my Bible study, and hence, my church. When I spend time binging war movies on Netflix instead of doing my LFBI book assignment or seeking God out by simply reading his word in my free time, I am unprepared to lead. I’m not a good listener when I don’t spend time listening to God in his Word. Pastor Brandon asked a good question that I find convicting: “Does my life fit the greatest purpose to edify the body of Christ?” In verse 9 of the same chapter, "ye” is used to describe how all of us are laborers together with God. This word is in the plural since it's old English. This means that although I am a temple individually. I’m also part of the body of Christ collectively. Practically, at MBT and CAYA, my walk with the Lord affects everyone else. Although I might not see it at first or perceive it. I’m understanding that as I follow the Lord it will benefit my brothers and sisters.
When I think about the men who discipled me and led me in bible study, I see that I was privileged to live life with them, which allowed me to observe how they behaved. My Pauls truly lived out their lives knowing that the Spirit of God dwelled in them. The way they lived told it so. The careers they sought were in light of knowing that they needed to put God first. Their jobs allowed them to provide for their families, to have time to be part of ministry after work, to potentially work from anywhere if the Lord called them to a new field. Their time was spent seeking God. They prepared for Bible study; they walked in virtue as they lived out what God had taught them. They made the sacrifice to disciple and counsel in hard situations, even when they had to lose sleep to do so. They were gracious and spoke the truth in love. They were conscious that they were responsible to live a life that would not defile (destroy) the testimony of God in them. It was their personal obedience to the Lord that impacted my life forever, praise God! That is what I ought to do with my life. I ought to obey him because he can and will use me to benefit someone, in the present moment, the future, or both.
“I’m Christ’s, therefore I want to live as an ensample for others so that I can be a Paul to someone else”
God is so jealous of his church. He does not want it to be defiled. Since I’m his temple in which he dwells, I must not be defiled. The thought of God taking me home early because my actions, my mentality, and my desires are not benefiting his church is scary. God loves us, and so he corrects us. I’ve learned to question my decisions and new ambitions, considering whether they will worship God. Will XYZ keep me from being at church? Will a master's degree or doctorate benefit my walk with the Lord? Am I making sure to prioritize giving rather than buying what I desire? Knowing that my walk with Lord impacts others I must constantly check whether my life is pleasing God. After learning how much he loves his church, I would rather not test the Lord, so I’ll simply obey instead.
If I choose to live a life that defiles God’s temple in me, I will be deceived. If I don’t obey what God tells me to do and learn, I will fall prey to thinking as the world does within my church. “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (1 Cor 3:18-19). It was a hard thing for me to realize how subtly I was deceived by the world when it came to pursuing a higher degree. After graduating from college and joining a clinical research lab, I was driven to start looking into graduate programs. But quickly I learned that I was subtly crafting my plan. The desire is there still. But, if I were to go back to school, what career will be the most useful in God’s economy? I still don’t have the answer, so I had to surrender that desire and subtle ambition to the Lord. I will rather be a fool and ask the Lord to lead me and wait for him. It’s much safer, peaceful, and joyful that way. I’m a temple in which he dwells, and I rather submit myself to him to guide me in the seasons of my life.
During this series, I’ve learned that since I’m a temple, I have the responsibility to live in obedience, in humility, and holiness before him. The best I can do for myself falls short of the best God can give me in his timing, his way. “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;” (1 Cor 3:21). Having God’s Word as my authority is a peaceful realization. When the world, my flesh, or the devil tells me to see or think or pursue false gratifying ways, I must remember that God dwells in me. As a temple of God where he dwells, I must realize that I am not missing out on things. God has placed me in a loving local church, invested in me through godly men, given me eternal life in him and joy in this one, removed the fear of death through his forgiveness of my sins, and what may come. The Lord truly builds his church, an environment where people are built up in their faith in Him, as others obey him. Jesus has given me everything in him. I’m Christ’s, therefore I want to live as an ensample for others so that I can be a Paul to someone else.
Andy Cardona is a member of Midtown Baptist Temple and is a part of C&YA. He leads a Friends of Internationals men’s Bible study in Kansas City.
