From Me to We

During the course of our life with God, there is a transition that takes place that changes the focus from “me” to “we”. The transition is an important step in our relationship with God. Some people never make the transition. Today we will be focusing on 1 Corinthians.

What is the “Me”?

When beginning the journey to learn about God we focus on the relationship He wants with us and His expectations of us as a person. The perspective is focused entirely on the “me”. How can I change? How can I do better? What is expected of me? How will God save me? It is okay to take the time to figure things out when you are starting the journey. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 says this:

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

The goal is to make the transition from living as the world lives to growing and learning from the spirit. Like in school, you are taught more advanced subjects when you go to a higher grade. In the end, you will be ready for the “we” after you begin learning from the Spirit. When you know better, you can stop doing the sins of your past or behaving how the world behaves. You will not need to be retaught the same lesson.

What is the “We”?

After learning the expectations that God has for us and putting an end to the sins that separates us from Christ, we will be ready to focus on others and help them learn about God. The focus changes as our heart changes. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 says this:

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

We all have a purpose to spread the good news about Christ and His selflessness in saving all of us. Not one of us deserved to be saved, because we are all sinners. Jesus knew that we were still sinners. He still did that for us. We should try to follow in His footsteps and learn how to be more like Him. How we can grow so we can help others learn about Him. Learn how God wants us to work and serve others and how each of us can do our part.

Why is Becoming the “We” Important?

As a people, we need others in our lives. Life can not be done in solitude. If we are still focused on ourselves and making the same mistakes that we have been taught not to make, how does that look to others? Not in the way that we care about how others perceive us but how does that look to someone who does not yet know Christ? Would it seem like a relationship with God is just about sinning then asking for forgiveness without a thought to do better and quit that sin? How could we teach someone else about God when we have not allowed our hearts to be corrected and use the learning we have received? It says this in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15:

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The need to continue to work on ourselves will still be there. Even typing this I am still convicted to do better. Learning and growing will continue until the day we are no longer here. Once your love for God outweighs your love for yourself, pray about how to share that love with others.

As always, God loves you, I love you, and I am praying for you! Have a blessed week!