But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it... What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. NASB
The Corinthian church had a major problem; they had formed groups within the church that saw themselves as better then other groups. This was causing problems and people began to see the church time not as a time of growing closer to God and each other, but an opportunity to get back at the other groups and demonstrate that their group was better then the others. It had become a brutal display of selfishness and lack of self control. This is a horrible condemnation against them, that Paul himself says their meetings cause more harm then good! When anyone in a church sees themselves as better then the others, division happens, and this leads to selfishness and self indulgence. Beware of this in your own life and don't allow yourself to fall into the same condemnation as the Corinthian church. Remember that Jesus said about the greatest among us should be the servant of all and that we in the church should not lord our positions over each other, but love one another by submitting to one another and serving in love. Be an example of the grace and love of Jesus, not the selfishness and evil of the world.
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