Re-calibrated Focus!

Many times we get ourselves into trouble because we focus on people instead on focusing on the Lord.

Yes we must honour our leaders, esteem them highly for the work they do, but we are not to glory in them, or exalt them beyond measure.

​Let’s have a look at some scriptures:

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1 Corinthians 3; 19 - 23
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
 
Here Paul is saying, let no man glory in men. The scripture is also saying, “all things are yours” in other words, we have the same access.  The scriptures are also saying, we all belong to the Lord.

We learn from leaders, but we are not to glory in them. The continuation of these verses, 1 Corinthians 4: 1  reads “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God”.  This is how we should see them, ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
We are to take our eyes off man.

We know who Paul was, He wrote 13 books of the new testament.
So who was Apollos? He was a man mighty in scriptures, Acts 18; 24.
Cephas was Peter ( John 1; 42, Luke 12; 34, Gal 2;9     ).

From scripture, there were division’s among the people. Some were saying, l am of Paul, while another said l am of Cephas. Let’s look at the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 1: 11-13
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
 
Paul uses from very strong language here. He wanted the people to take their eyes off him. He said was l crucified for you? Were you baptised in my name? That is very strong. This strong language was used so the people can put their focus on the Lord.
We see again in 1 Corinthians 3: 3-5 this being addressed.

1 Corinthians 3; 2-5
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Paul here is saying again, we are only ministers by whom you have believed. In other words, we are only a channel, as it has been given to every man to be a channel to others so they can believe.
 
Paul then addresses this matter in 1 Corinthians 4.
1 Corinthians 4: 5-6
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Paul is saying, not to think of men above that which is written.
 
We need to honour men of God and highly esteem them, but we must be  careful not to exalt them beyond that which is written.
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Let’s receive from our ministers, honour them and highly esteem them, but lets put our eyes on the Lord.
 
Bisi Oladipupo

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