On Guard Against Complacency (Tuesday, August 13)

The Word of the Day is "type."  In today's daily scripture reading of 1 Corinthians 10:5-12,  St. Paul warns, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (OSB vs. 12). Temptation is devious. Sometimes, temptation surprises us with a sudden and unexpected assault. At other times, temptation comes upon us so gradually that we hardly notice it at first. Initially, the enticement to sin carries us along gently as a hint of desire. But then that passion propels us along more swiftly until we find ourselves in the raging currents of craving.

In today's reading of 1 Corinthians 10:5-12, Paul warns the Corinthians against the complacency founded on spiritual pride. They should be watchful lest they get carried away in grievous sins such as lust, idolatry, sexual morality, or complaint against the Almighty. Today, we will study Paul's concern for the prideful smugness of his flock in Corinth. The apostle will assert that the events of the Old Testament were written to instruct believers in the present. Therefore, they apply not only to Paul's time but also to ours.   This warning against complacency should keep us all alert and vigilant in our faith.

The Complacency of Those Who Claim Superior Knowledge

Paul is concerned that the claim of  "superior spiritual knowledge" has made his flock heedless of the danger of falling into sin. At least some believers in Corinth think that they do not have to worry about temptations. But Paul reaches back to the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness to warn them against false confidence. His teaching should remind us of the need for humility and watchfulness in our faith journey. 

God's Favor of the Israelites in the Desert 

The Chosen People had been saved from the Pharaoh's army by a kind of "baptism" as they passed through the Red Sea to dry land. They were continually "under the cloud" of God's protection and guidance in the wilderness. Moreover, the Lord fed them with "spiritual food," the miraculous bread of the manna from heaven. And they drank the "spiritual drink" from the "Rock" Moses struck to provide water for the thirsty people. Paul notes that this "Rock" foreshadowed Christ (Mark 12:10), who would give those who came to Him "living water" (John 4: 10; 7:37).

God's Favor of the Corinthians

Likewise, the Corinthians had been baptized, and they lived "under the cloud" of the grace of Christ. And they were partakers of the "spiritual food" and "spiritual drink" of the Holy Communion (1 Cor. 10:3-4). Yet Paul warns that despite the blessings of the Almighty, the Chosen People yield to the temptations of the most heinous sins: idolatry (vs. 7), sexual morality (Numbers 25:1-6), tempting God (Exodus 17:1-7; Number 21:4-9), and complaining against God (Number 14:26-38). For these transgressions, God destroyed them. They died in the wilderness even though God favored them as His people (OSB 1 Cor: 10:5).

God's Favor is No Reason to Be Complacent

The lesson is clear. The Corinthians should beware lest they take the blessings of Christ for granted. They should fear that they would perish in the wilderness of their sins just as the Israelites had fallen in the desert.

For Reflection

Paul's reference to the historical events that happened to the Israelites in the wilderness is an excellent example of his use of the Old Testament for instruction. His teaching in this passage exemplifies his interpretation of the events of the Hebrew scriptures. They are to be used as "examples" for believers in Christ, the fulfillment of scripture.

The word for "example" is better translated as "type."  The Greek word means the events that happened to the Chosen People foreshadow the future (Strong's #4179). More than examples, they are models of the ways of God. They disclose the patterns of God's actions that happened in the past but are happening in the present. In the case of our reading, they typify the fall from grace that occurs when believers lust after evil things" (vs. 6).

The Scriptures Written for Our Instruction and Admonition

Accordingly, Paul says that the things written in the past are for "our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come (vs. 11). In other words, the events of the Old Testament are prototypes of what God is doing to fulfill his promises in this end time. They serve "for admonition," calling attention to a warning (Strong's #3559). Therefore, they serve as red flags of caution for those who believe that their superior faith in God's grace, their relationship to Jesus Christ, and their knowledge given by the Holy Spirit makes them immune from temptation and God's judgment.

How To Overcome Pride With Humility (Friday, July 2)

The Word of the Day is "received." Today, in our daily scripture study of 1 Corinthians 4:5-8, we reflect on how we can overcome pride that divides us with humility that unites us.

              It takes the spiritual gift of discernment to recognize the difference between what comes from our own ego and what comes from the Spirit of Christ. What comes from our ego bolsters our pride. But what comes from Christ engenders our humility. Pride divides us from others. But in humility, we can be united with others in love and mutual caring for one another.

In our reading, St. Paul sternly rebukes the boasting of the Corinthians. Their judgments of each other are not merely causing disagreements among them but driving a wedge between them. And they are wielding their supposed superior wisdom and knowledge against one another. But St. Paul pulls out their pride by the roots. He asks, who has planted the divisions among you? "Who is making you differ from one another?" (1 Cor. 4:7). And then he digs up the root of their divisions. "What do you have that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7).

WHAT WE HAVE IS CAUSE FOR HUMILITY

At the beginning of his letter, the apostle said,  "…you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge" (1 Cor. 1:5). And in chapter 3 he added, "… all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come – all are yours" (1 Cor. 3:22). And he went on, "And you are Christ's and Christ is God's" (1 Cor. 3:24). Reflect on the abundance of blessings that God has bestowed upon you, and let gratitude fill your hearts.

GOD HAS ALREADY SUPPLIED THEM WITH EVERY BLESSING

Paul has pointed out that the Corinthians are called to be Christ's own and that He has already supplied His own with every blessing. But the problem is that the Corinthians claim even more than God gives. They are bragging that they have acquired even loftier wisdom and knowledge, even more incredible blessings, even more immense riches, and even higher kingship (1 Cor. 4:8).

But they have not received these supposed better things from Christ. Their own ego has deceived them into thinking they are on a higher spiritual level than others. But this claim has caused bitter conflicts in the Corinthian congregation. When one pretends to be better than others, they will respond with their own claims of superiority. So begins a vicious cycle of allegation and recrimination driven by pride. Each side will define itself by its contrast with the others in knowledge, spiritual gifts, and status before God. And each side will choose a champion of its arrogance. As Paul puts it, "You are puffed up on behalf of one against the other" (OSB vs. 6).

HUMILITY IS THE ONLY WEAPON AGAINST PRIDE

Against such pride, there is only one recourse: humility. Humility will not think of itself as different from others. Humility will not go beyond what is written in the scriptures. Humility will not think it is already "full," that is, "satisfied" (Strong's #2880). It will not think of itself as spiritually rich. Humbleness will not believe it already reigns with Christ in the kingdom of God (OSB vs. 8).

In summary, humility will realize that whatever wisdom, knowledge, spiritual gifts, and blessings it possesses, it has received.

FOR REFLECTION

The Lord said, "You will know them by their fruits (NKJV Matthew 7:1). One test of spiritual attainment is peace. Those who are truly advanced in the Spirit have peace of mind and share the peace of God. St. Anatoly of Optina said, "Wherever God is — there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident: where there is envy, enmity, impatience, self-love — there is the devil. Wherever the devil is — there, everything is ruinous, proud, and hostile."[i] We see the prime example of these fruits of the devil in the prideful and divisive behavior of the Corinthians.

ATTAINING PEACE IN THE WAY OF ST. ANATOLY

How do we attain peace? We put aside all that St. Anatoly lists as signs of pride, hostility, and destructiveness. And we acquire the virtue of contentment. Such peace of mind comes when we open our hands to receive whatever God wills to give us and when we open our hearts to receive nothing but Him.

This serene attitude is in contrast to the ceaseless quest to have and hold by our own efforts. It is the opposite of the claim that we have achieved what we have through our own works or worthiness.

To gain contentment, we might reflect on the truth that the Lord has given us whatever wisdom, knowledge, and blessings we have. Moreover, He has promised to supply whatever we need for eternal life and salvation. In this peace of mind and heart we can cultivate the virtues of humility and gratitude and root out pride from our hearts. So, let us reflect on the abundance of blessings that the Lord continues to give us and, in humility, share this riches of grace with others.  

[i] St. Anatoly of Optina, quoted from Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina.