Enriched By God

Have you ever considered where the richest place on earth is?  The answer will surprise you.

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” ― Les Brown

How do we avoid wasted possibilities in our lives?  To enable the potential richness in our lives to blossom?  It requires us to use what God has given us to the fullest, as it was meant to.  Some of these answers may be found in 1 Corinthian 1:1-9.

Let’s start by understanding the context of Corinth.  Corinth is a large cosmopolitan city of perhaps 600,000.  Due to its location it was a bustling trade centre.  Due to its diversity, it became a cauldron for religious syncretism and immorality.  It developed a reputation for depravity.  There was even a Gk word korinthiazomai (Corinthianize), which meant "to practice fornication."  

1 Corinthian was an epistle or a letter written by Paul to the believers in the church at Corinth.  It was written with the specific purpose to address various issues that had arisen there.  Because Paul wanted the church to operate God’s way, rather than in their worldly thinking influenced by the philosophies in that city.  As Paul greeted the church in Corinth, he sought to encourage the church.  He reminded them that knowing Christ has resulted in tremendous richness from God, in their lives.  In all manner of ways.

We will examine some of this richness of God in our lives, its implications and some practical applications today.

ENRICHED BY HIS GRACE

1 Corinthian 1:4-5 (NIV) “4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  5 For in him you have been enriched in every way …”

Apostle Paul reminded his readers that God showed His grace, His favour to us through our relationship with Christ. A favour that is undeserved by us.  Because we are in Christ, a natural overflow is that we are:

Enriched in Knowledge (v5b) "…in all you knowledge…...”.

Something tremendous is meant to occur in our lives as a result of our coming to know Christ and as we walk with Him. We are to be enriched in our knowledge.  In what way?

Firstly, we gain new perspectives due to Truth.  We begin to see things from the perspective of truth, the perspective of Scripture, the perspective of heaven.  Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It could be like in Matrix the movie or Inception where what is perceived is not always reality.  It takes a waking up of our sense to the true reality.   God’s Word and His Holy Spirit renews our minds to perceive what really is.

The more we understand Scriptures, a whole new vista of truth begins to dawn upon us. 

Secondly, the more we understand Scriptures, a whole new vista of truth begins to dawn upon us.  We discover spiritual truths and realities that we had not known before.

The more we know God, the more we experience God, the greater our appreciation of the spiritual realities that lie behind the words of Scripture. 

Thirdly, the more we know God, the more we experience God, the greater our appreciation of the spiritual realities that lie behind the words of Scripture.  We come to know, taste and feel what we had understood conceptually.  Have you ever tasted some exotic fruits that perhaps you have only heard of?  You could be given descriptions of its flavour, its texture, its aroma, etc.  But until you actually hold it and eat it – it lacks tangibility. It takes on a reality that you could not have fully formed until you held and ate it.    

Our enrichment in knowledge is not limited to biblical truths.  With the new Kingdom perspective, the greater understanding of biblical truths and deeper experiences in the things of God, should also enrich all the other collection of knowledge and experiences we have.  All our knowledge begins to gain new implications, new depth and richness.  As a former scientist and one who enjoys science, my knowledge of science has been enriched as I align it with my biblical perspectives. 

Enriched in Behaviour (v5a) "…in all your speaking…...”.

Speech is part of our overall behaviour. Just as our behaviour has been enriched through our relationship with Christ.  We should be more loving, compassionate, gracious, respectful in our behaviour including our speech.  Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

If we truly, genuinely accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and begin to walk with Him - our behaviours will gradually begin to change to be more Christ-like. If we claim to know God but we do not demonstrate real change in our hearts and in our actions, then it has to be asked whether we had genuinely come to know God.  1 John 3:10 (NIV) This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

In effect, we should be getting more gracious, more refined, more wholesome in our behaviours.  The more we are being changed by the grace of God.  When people observe us and how we behave.  They should be thinking, "Wow! I am so inspired with the way this person interacts with others.  I learn so much watching how this guy deals with conflicts.  I am amazed at this calmness and peace in the midst of great troubles."

Years ago in the church I attended in Melbourne, a retired couple would almost every Sunday invite overseas students over for lunch and took a genuine interest in their lives.  It touched the lives of many including ours.  In fact, we honoured him to have him drive my bride to our wedding.

How we behave, what we do, should be enriched by our relationship with God.  We should be more righteous in our actions, more trustworthy, more loving, etc.

Enriched in Spiritual Gifts (v7) "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”

Scriptures declares that every believer has at least one spiritual gift.  It is meant to enrich us personally and the Church.  1 Corinthians 12:4, 7 (NIV) 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit...  7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

Every person has something important to contribute. You have something that will add to the greater good of the Body. For that is the intent of the spiritual gifts that God has given us.  1 Corinthians 12:8 - 10 (NIV) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

Every necessary spiritual gift that is sufficient for the church already resides amongst the congregation.

I believe that every believer should access at least one of the above gifts.  Will you exercise faith to grab hold of what God has already provided for you?  Hence use it to build God’s church, God’s way.  To serve God. To serve others.  Did you know that every necessary spiritual gift that is sufficient for the church already resides amongst the congregation.  It may be in seed form, but it is there.  Because the Holy Spirit gives what is adequate for building His church

KEPT BY GOD

1 Corinthians 1:v8-9 (NIV) “8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

God has provided for us everything we need to overcome and finish the race well.  Nevertheless, we have to choose to continue in His grace. 

God will help us be faithful to the end by His grace.  Through the means of grace, God has provided for us everything we need to overcome and finish the race well.  Nevertheless, we have to choose to continue in His grace.  We could reject or neglect His grace.  The choice is ours.  Acts 13:43 (NIV) When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

One key principle that helps us finish the race well is when we apply the richness of His grace in our lives.

Let us choose to finish the race well.  One key principle that helps us finish the race well is when we apply the richness of His grace in our lives.  It is as we use it for His Church that it helps us to grow and mature, and strengthen our faith in God.  As a young Christian, I started to serve in Audio-visual ministry where it helped me to learn excellence in serving God.  I learnt to be spiritually more aware of the spiritual atmosphere.  Where the anointing was resting.  To be very diligent, not to miss any part of the service.  It helped me to grow in some aspects of my personal life and understanding something more about serving God.

CONCLUSION

God enriches our lives in every way by His grace.  But we have to chose to come to Him, to lean upon Him, to learn to tap into His grace.  The more we do so.  The more we serve Him.  We will discover His enriching grace.

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