Is addiction ALWAYS a bad thing, is jelaousy ALWAYS a bad thing?
If you simply say "yes" think again!
1 Corinthians 16:15 says this: I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Now, you know and I know that the "saint" here were not some statues or pendants or dead people who were "canonized", they were, simply, the beleivers. It says here that the house, oikos, HOUSEHOLD, a gathering of multiple families who were a Household of Faith, was "ADDICTED" to the "ministry of the saints."
What is "the ministry of the saints?"
Verses 17 and 18 explain this a bit further:
17I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
Quite simply, they took care of people, and they supported the work of the ministry others were doing, and not just with resources but in other ways as well, helpong, refreshing their spirit, and simply being supportive and encouraging.
So, we SHOULD be addicted.....
to the ministry of the saints!
But what about that green monster, jealousy?
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 tells us when we might be jealous and it actually be godly.
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Paul is worried here that the Corinthians will fall into legalism and be led astray from the truth, and he does not want that.
How often do we have such godly jealousy over our new converts or even over the people we minister to? How often does something rise up within us when we see a member of our fellowship being led astray to scream out "I have espoused you to one husband?"
We have a tendency in Christianity to "kill our wounded and abdandon our babies", but if we had godly jealousy over the wounded who have fallen, lest they be snatred and lost to the Bridegroom whom we have espoused them to, or the new convert who is stumbling, we might be willing to go and find them when we don't see them for a few weeks, we might spend time with them in their home to help them and answer their questions or concerns, and we might be willing to show them, by our deeds and not just our words, just how addicted we are to the "ministry of the saints" because we have godly jealousy for the souls we care for or lead to Christ.
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Good article!
I would like to comment on this,"We have a tendency in Christianity to 'kill our wounded and abandon our babies' .." Boy do I agree...that to our shame!!
But I am not sure what you mean by what was said right after that " ....lest they be snared and lost to the Bridegroom...." How can a Christian...wounded... though he may be...or baby.. though he may be.....be"lost to the Bridegroom"???
Jan
So,if a Christian is wounded or immature...gives up...walks away...God gives him up???
What would be the point of Christ dying if...one could so easily be lost again?
I just think God is a bit more powerful than that. You may have walked away...but you were His....and He would woo you back. : ) He is quite a lover of His bride! You might say He is Jealous!
Jan said:So,if a Christian is wounded or immature...gives up...walks away...God gives him up???
What would be the point of Christ dying if...one could so easily be lost again?
I just think God is a bit more powerful than that. You may have walked away...but you were His....and He would woo you back. : ) He is quite a lover of His bride! You might say He is Jealous!
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