Devotion for Saturday, March 14, The Second week of Lent
1 Corinthians 3:1–9 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
It is a wise saying that goes, “You can do a lot of good in the world if you don’t mind who gets the credit.” But it matters to most of us.
In the third chapter of First Corinthians, St. Paul rejects receiving credit. He wants the credit to go to God.
Now, whom is he kidding? Does he mean to say that he is saintly enough to want nothing back for his efforts? Yes. Paul wants nothing back, save their love. He has learned that to take the credit, for anything, is dangerous. It leads to frail, temporary admiration, to cliques and party spirit. It leads to division and disaster. Paul means what he says, if only because of experience and expediency.
But there is more to it than that, and here is where we come in. You and I need (but do not crave) humility. It is just better, every time, when we ascribe what good we do to God and take only the credit for our sins. Such a spirit sets us in right relationship with truth, and with the Truth. The most honest way I can live is as the tax collector in the Temple, who says only, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Jesus praised this spirit.
Paul’s way of giving the glory to God is rooted in his penitent heart. It is what you and I need.
Dear Father, free us from needing to get the credit.