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“Easy to Say, Not So Easy to Do”

Thoughts for Today:

The word "evil" is translated from the Greek word "KAKIA". According to Strong's Lexicon, "KAKIA" means: "malice, ill-will, or desire to injure." In context, Paul is telling the Corinthians that speaking in tongues without a translator would be the same as intentionally treating others in the body poorly. Paul wanted the Corinthians to be innocent (like an infant), when it came to anything that might be considered malicious. Yet, mature (as an adult would be) in their understanding of what their behavior represented.

Paul's point is children often think only of themselves. They want attention focused on what they're doing, and are usually oblivious to everything else. On the other hand, the mark of maturity (adulthood), is the ability to understand the implication our conduct has upon other people. Paul also wrote in Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Throughout history, the church has been infected and motivated by competition and the desire for self-aggrandizement. It was a problem in the Corinthian Church and it's no different today. So what are Paul's instructions to counteract this disease? Simple -- stop acting like children and start behaving like adults. Don't think of what will benefit us personally, but place the interests of others above ourselves. It's easy to say, but not as easy to do.

Questions to Ponder:

Paul's teaching can be somewhat difficult because we're all naturally self-absorbed regardless of our age. The only way we can truly make this mental shift is through a moment by moment reliance on God and the help He offers by His Holy Spirit. Is there any area of your behavior that needs Christian maturity? How so? In what ways does your thinking and/or behavior need to be modified? Will you ask the Lord for His help?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.