5 After all, what is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants who helped you to believe. Each one had a role given to them by the Lord: 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow.
Reflection
Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about their faith, but the followers have become two camps – those who have come to know Christ through Paul and those who have come to know Christ through Apollos. These two men have become inspirations for the people, sent by God to further the kingdom in Corith. Paul is arguing that men should not be who people follow – it should be Christ. That does not mean we shouldn’t follow others’ examples, it just means we should not put a person or persons above Christ when it comes to who we actually worship. It is interesting that we see the same thing today and have throughout the history of the Christian church – there have been cults, televangelists, etc. who have led people astray by claiming to be something/someone they are not. We can and should be inspired by people, but we should be discerning about who that is, and how we respond to them. I am sure we can all name people in our lives that taught us about being a Christian that we may or may not agree with as we mature in our faith.
I will admit, I have always wanted to be an inspiration to someone. I thought that was a lofty goal – to live my life in a way that it may inspire others. However, when my daughter was writing her college application essay, one of her prompts was to write about someone who inspired her. She apologized as she thought it might hurt my feelings that she did not choose me to write about. She wrote about her great aunt that each member of our immediate family had their own close but varying relationship with. I know she was a great choice as she was one of the most caring, generous, act-like-Jesus kind of people you could ever meet. She is still alive but has dementia, so she is not the same person we knew. Kaye was not a church going kind of person, but her faith showed through with her acts of service and caring toward others.
When I was thinking about this question – who inspires me today – I am inspired by those who speak up for those who don’t have or don’t feel they have voices in our society. I am inspired by the members of MUMC for becoming a Reconciling Congregation when it may have been easier to “stay quiet” about the inequities that were happening in the Church. I am inspired by the babies that I work with who have to work so hard to accomplish things we take for granted like learning how to roll, sit, and walk. They clap for themselves and want to show me what they can do – and even if they can’t talk or they may cry while doing the hard work, they always want to come over to me when we are done working and be my friend because I acknowledge and respect them as people. They help me grow in my faith because I feel that I am using the gifts God has given me to help them. Some days it is a challenge, but we all have challenging days, right?
by Janet Waryck
For Pondering and Prayer
Who comes to your mind when you answer the question “who inspires your faith?” How has that person’s inspiration changed how you live out your faith?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for those we know or can look to to see you more clearly. Help us to also be that person for others – not for our glory, but for yours. Amen.
