FRIDAY, MAY 5
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
Ephesians 4:14-16

"…there is among you envying…"

THE CONSEQUENCES OF CARNALITY

Carnality in a professing believer’s life must be treated with utmost seriousness. If a person does not make effort to seek spiritual growth in God’s Word, he will soon have difficulties in his spiritual life. He will easily be tempted into sin, and be blown about by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14). He will suffer much grief because of his spiritual instability. The sweet fellowship with God will be affected because he is not walking in the Spirit but in the ways of carnality.

A disobedient Christian will affect not just himself but also the community of believers. Consider the example of Achan (Josh 6-7). Due to his sin of keeping the accursed thing of Jericho, he caused Israel to sin together with him. As a result, Israel was not able to conquer Ai till they dealt with that sin in the camp. Another example is that of Lot. His flirtation with worldliness led to the loss of his wife. His daughters also had no ounce of spirituality in them and committed the sin of incest with their father.

For the Corinthian church, carnality in their midst had resulted in a chaotic church. A carnal man is self-centred. Thus, there was much jealousy in the hearts of the members which resulted in strife and contentions. The church became divided. It is no surprise to see such behaviour in a secular workplace, for the natural man does not know the things of the Lord. However, it is a shame when such behaviour is found in the church. Should not the brethren love one another? All these problems are the result of carnality and spiritual immaturity, which the Corinthian Christians had refused to eradicate.

Dear reader, every Christian is responsible to live a holy life, and grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). When everyone has a spiritual mind, there will be harmony in the church. The work of the Lord can thus be magnified.

THOUGHT: I must war against carnality and worldliness in my life.
PRAYER: Lord, I want to be a spiritually mature Christian.