Recently during a message at church, the scripture reference was 1 Corinthians 3.

“However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready. 3 You are still [b]worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not [c]unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?” (AMP)

I sat for a minute after reading verse 3. I wondered if I had any of the mentioned behaviors in my life. Would these behaviors classify me as unspiritual, fleshly, or carnal?

It can be easy for us to lean to the flesh when things happen in the natural. When a church leader falls, we proclaim that our leader is better. During elections, we proclaim that our party or candidate is better. When we start being more than lighthearted in conversations about our sports teams, workplaces, or colleges being better, are we entering a fleshly realm? Does this happen when we think our house or anything else is superior?

I don’t know, but I do know that the scripture challenged me to look at myself, as the scriptures should.

Where have I proclaimed something that has caused discord within the community I’m in?

I remember a recent conversation with someone. They work for a company from which the company I work for split. At work, we have a saying that we are the “prettier sister” of the companies. I noticed when I said that the person’s disposition changed. As long as we talked about work, there was no harmony. It was like we were trying to one up each other and prove we were with the better company. It was lighthearted, and we still talked about other things. However, we should avoid discussing work in the future because it will bring strife.

When I’m examining my life, I’m challenged to be sure that my words do not bring strife or discord. I must be sure that they are not a sign that I have been unchanged by faith.

I have work to do.

I know there is much more in that chapter. I may write about that at another time. What stuck out to me was to be sure that I am not the cause of any strife or discord.

My focus should not be about my way vs their way but about THE Way.