Tuesday: Wisdom and Maturity
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 14th of July 2026
By and large, cliques result from too high a view of human leaders. This is very threatening to the unity of the church and to the members’ spiritual health, for a distorted view of Christian ministry may lead a church to give excessive importance to certain leaders, all to the detriment of others. The consequence of such behavior is an atmosphere of competition, which can split the church. More than that, if we treat human leaders as central to our Christian identity, we risk moving Christ from the correct position in our lives.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. How does Paul here describe the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians?
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Paul makes it clear that spiritual maturity leads the believer to appreciate the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-7), which is communicated to us through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13), and which contrasts with the wisdom of this age (1 Corinthians 2:6), human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:13). The wisdom of God is unveiled in the cross of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1-4). More precisely, the wisdom of God is revealed in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Thus, before resuming his appeal for unity (1 Corinthians 3:1-17), Paul wants his readers to acknowledge the need for true wisdom and maturity in Christ.
Wise and mature Christians are spiritual people, not carnal, not like infants (1 Corinthians 3:1). They compare spiritual things with spiritual things, because “the things of the Spirit . . . are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14, NKJV). Wise and mature Christians feed on solid food, not milk (1 Corinthians 3:2; compare with Hebrews 5:12). The believer “who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14, ESV). Wise and mature Christians do not say, “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos” (1 Corinthians 3:4), referring to different people.
After all, these people are, like them, “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9, ESV). We, as a church, are God’s field, building, and temple (1 Corinthians 3:9,16-17). We all belong to God through Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
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What has been your experience with being disappointed by someone whom you had admired? If you have had this experience, what lessons did you learn from it? |
In my comment today I am going to “go where angels fear to tread” and mention by name an issue that has deeply divided parts of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in recent years. This is not an invitation to take sides and discuss and support one side or the other. Such comments will not be published. I want to raise the issue because it is or has been divisive and we need to work on how to relate to one another when the divisions are so deep.
The issue of the role of women in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been discussed, and dissected in both informal discussion groups and in formal conference sessions. Votes have been taken but if one thing is clear. Changing people’s minds on an issue does not happen simply because of a vote. In the absence of a “Urim and Thumin” or the instructions of a prophet, we are left with a division. The language used in this argument has been predictively acrimonious with both sides claiming to follow Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit. A sociological analysis will show that the division on this issue is largely demographic and based on generational and cultural backgrounds.
Given that the issue has not gone away, how do we tackle the problem of division? What does it mean to look to Jesus and follow the Holy Spirit when we cannot agree.
I have mentioned in the past the issue of Sabbath observance above the arctic circle where sunset does not exist for large parts of the year. Two methods of handling the situation developed and it became a divisive issue. Without going into all the details, the committee that ultimately discussed the issue came up with two principles for handling the division.
Church members were to follow their own conscience on this matter, but they should not criticise or condemn those who chose a different resolution. Secondly, they should not change the way they calculated sunset times from one method to the other out of convenience. (I still have the letter in one of my cupboards)
Maybe we need to look at these divisive issues not in terms of which side is right or wrong, but how do we treat one another when we disagree and there is no resolution in sight. There are folk outside our church who have asked me about the “role of women” issue and much of the discussion I have had with them has been about how we handle the divide rather than the issue itself. My response has been that a true measure of our Christianity is to show our love for one another and that while the issue has been painful and divisive. It is also an opportunity to develop tolerance and understanding.
In the early 1900s while Ellen White was still alive, there was an issue of prophetic interpretation within the church. Ellen White was asked to intervene, and she responded that she had no light on the matter. It was also during this time that she spoke to some of the protagonists in this argument that they should concentrate on preaching Christ-centred sermons.
If we look to Jesus, the relationship becomes more important than the division.
Thanks Mr. Ashton,
One that causes division and divisiveness is black and white conferences that are still in the USA.
Maria, it looks to me that the issue of black and white conferences, as well as black and white churches is a complex issue. I have seen that on both sides of the issue there are people for uniting and against uniting. And there are white members in “black” churches and black members in many white churches.
I wonder if the issue of churches that are mainly black or mainly white needs to be divisive. If everyone recognized the matter as cultural, rather than racial, such as mainly Filipino, mainly Samoan, mainly Korean, mainly Hispanic, and mainly German churches, perhaps it need not be divisive. People with similar backgrounds and similar interests naturally enjoy coming together on Sabbath after spending the week in a more diverse environment.
Whether or not a change in conferences occurs, members can make the individual churches inclusive and embrace people of all backgrounds. I know that many of them are already inclusive.
Loved this…..ty
Amen!
The church at Corinth was a vibrant and gifted congregation. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were operating powerfully among its members, yet many continued to live carnal and worldly lifestyles that were surrounded by a culture that prized philosophy and human wisdom, they possessed much knowledge but failed to put the teachings of Christ into practice. As a result, they lacked spiritual maturity. Paul rebuked them, saying, “I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it” (1 Corinthians 3:1–2). Their condition illustrates the saying, “If sins were horses, the Corinthian church could have filled many stables.”
Paul makes it clear that no one accidentally drifts into wisdom or spiritual maturity. Growth in Christ requires intentional pursuit, consistent obedience, and daily dependence on the Holy Spirit. Age alone does not produce maturity; faithful discipleship does. God’s desire is that every believer progresses from spiritual infancy to maturity, moving beyond the elementary teachings of the faith. Hebrews 5:12–14 reminds believers that mature Christians should be able to receive solid spiritual food, while Ephesians 4:13–15 calls the church to “attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ,” growing in truth and love. Likewise, 2 Peter 3:18 exhorts us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” demonstrating that spiritual maturity is both God’s expectation and every believer’s lifelong pursuit.
Mature Approach To The Problem Of Cliques In The Church;
With a careful analysis of any clique in the church you will discover these set of people among them;
1, Leader or leaders: Very brilliant and oratorical
2, Sympathizers: People that are there just to support the clique not necessarily because they support their course but because of relationship, friendship and connection
3, The confused: This group may not have the knowledge of the course of the clique they just want to feel among.
4, The Stubborn: One told me sometime ago “Hey Jeph. even if what we are doing is wrong, we must continue until our demands are met”
5, The powerhouse: The financiers and highly connected.
Having done with the analysis now prayerfully approach the various set of people in the clique in these order;
1, Leader or leaders: Prayerfully engage them with meetings, bible study and leading in church activities enough to make them see reasons to lose interest in the clique. Like Christ told Paul “You cannot kick against the prick”
2, The Sympathizers: Let them know that church family relationship with Christ as the head should be their responsibility to protect because Christ will not hold them guiltless if they willingly support the destruction of His church.
3, The confused: Prayerfully educate them on the implications of their actions and let them know that “During the time of ignorance God overlooked” but they are no longer Ignorant.
4, The stubborn: Prayerfully explain to them that they cannot do more than Paul did before Christ met him on his way to Damascus, today he is the one who is giving us templates for unity in church. pray for ” God to give them a heart of flesh”
5, The powerhouse: Prayerfully let them know that God has not given them the resources and connection in order for them to use it against Him by funding the destruction of His church and there-by making non-believers mock His church, prayerfully encourage them to consider funding more honorable courses like evangelism, welfare outreach and in-reach programs, potluck services, visit to old and sick members who don’t come to church any longer, organize Pastor and Elders’ day out for fun and spiritual reawakening, singles and married workshop and etc. If you don’t keep them busy the devil will.
I believe with this approach God will do great things for His church and children.
More clique is not the solution to cliques in the church but a sign of immaturity and poor judgement!!!!
Spiritual maturity is not determined by how long someone has been in the church or the position one holds in the church, nor by how much scriptural knowledge one possesses, but by the Christ-like character shown. Spiritual maturity is spiritual growth in the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:13). How come some believers are too old in the church but spiritual infants? Why are some believers spiritually “retarded”?
1. One can be spiritually retarded by refusing “spiritual solid food”. Without a personal relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, and obedience, one can lack spiritual vitamins that stimulate spiritual growth. As the human body requires vital nourishment for physical growth, so does spiritual maturity. If we neglect our prayer life, bible study and obedience to God, we die spiritually.
2. Secondly, if we continue to cherish unconfessed sin, our spiritual growth gets mortally wounded. Sin not only kills the physical but also destroys the spirit. We cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit; we celebrate sin in our lives.
3. Thirdly, religious formalism is extremely dangerous to our spiritual growth. Religious formalism is hypocrisy, pretence, and self-deception. A form of religion deceives us while spiritually empty in the inside. Spiritual growth cannot be faked.
4. Fourthly, some believers harbour spiritual pride and superiority. “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18, NLT). Spiritual arrogance is spiritual self-destruction.
5. Finally, as believers, we must acknowledge that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. We must persevere and be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of our spiritual growth.
Lord God, please help us grow and mature spiritually.
I find it very interesting that the discussions on cliques both in the lesson study as well as in the comments feature cliques following a “Leader” or charismatic individual.
I have observed a different type of clique formation.
I have seen cliques formed by groups of people along ethnic, cultural, socio-economic lines etc.
These groups tend to exclude those outside of the particular boundaries that formed the group in the first place. There may not be a particular leader swaying the group but a “we versus them” mentality exists to fuel the development and promotion of the group.
May God help us to put Christ first and foremost. Aim for inclusion over division in the Body of Christ.
People from different cultural backgrounds are naturally drawn to each other because in a foreign environment, people from the same background feel more like family. They understand each other. So I see nothing intrinsically wrong with such groups forming.
On the other hand, and “us-versus-them” attitude is out of harmony with the Kingdom of Heaven, no matter where it is found, because Jesus said, “You are all brothers,” that is, family. (Matt. 23:8)
One of the greatest indicators of spiritual maturity is not how much Scripture we can quote, how faithfully we attend church, or how passionately we defend our beliefs. Spiritual maturity is best demonstrated by the way we treat people. Our relationship with Christ should be evident in our words, our attitudes, our actions, and even in our silence. If we are becoming more like Jesus, then those around us should experience more grace, more compassion, more patience, and more love through us.
The Bible repeatedly reminds us that our love for God and our love for others are inseparable. Jesus declared that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The apostle John went even further, writing that anyone who claims to love God while hating a brother or sister is deceiving themselves. Our vertical relationship with Christ is authenticated by our horizontal relationships with people.
The religious leaders of His day were convinced they were spiritually superior, yet they often failed to show mercy, compassion, and kindness. Meanwhile, Jesus welcomed tax collectors, sinners, Samaritans, lepers, and outsiders, people society had dismissed. He saw individuals where others saw labels. He extended dignity where others extended judgment.
We must be willing to address the preconceived motions that we have about others. Oftentimes our air of superiority, thinking we are better than those who don’t have the message, or those that are different than us, can damage our witness. Often it is not what we say or do, it’s what we don’t say or do. People are often less persuaded by the correctness of our theology than by the authenticity of our character.
We may fail to speak words of encouragement when someone is hurting. We may withhold forgiveness when reconciliation is possible. We may avoid the lonely visitor standing by themselves after church. We may fail to defend someone who is being unfairly criticized. We may choose comfort over compassion, silence over advocacy, convenience over service. When we truly understand the mercy God has shown us, humility naturally follows. Instead of looking down on others, we begin looking for opportunities to lift them up. Instead of seeing people as projects to fix, we see them as image-bearers to love. Instead of guarding our reputation, we reflect Christ’s compassion.
I believe this is also the pathway to breaking down the cliques and exclusive circles that too often develop within our churches and communities. The desire to feel important by belonging to a select group fades when our identity is firmly rooted in Christ rather than in social acceptance or status. When we understand that our worth comes from being children of God, we no longer need to elevate ourselves by excluding others. Instead, we become people who intentionally create spaces of belonging, welcome the outsider, and build communities where every person is seen, valued, and loved. Such a spirit not only reflects the heart of Christ but also becomes a powerful testimony to a world longing for genuine acceptance and authentic Christian love.
I am sharing the fact, that although all of us are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, there will always be certain brethren to whom we are drawn in a closer manner than the other rest of our brethren.
Jesus, our Lord and Saviour had a ” mobile church” of twelve members. On the night, just prior to his arrest, He went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When He arrived, He told them ” Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matt.26:36 NIV), after which “He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” ( Matt. 26:37 NIV)
Why did our Lord at such an intensely tumultus time in His human experience; chose three individuals from a group of around twelve ? {Judas had already departed} Had our Lord formed a clique at this intensely emotional time in His human experience ?
It is my view, that there will always be brethren with whom we feel more comfortable, at ease and in whose presence we are more confident in sharing the challenges of our lives. These should not be viewed as cliques.
I appreciate your point, and I agree that there is a difference between close friendships and cliques. Scripture certainly shows that Jesus had varying levels of intimacy in His relationships. He ministered to the crowds, invested deeply in the Twelve, and on several occasions invited Peter, James, and John into experiences that the others did not share, such as the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and His time of deep anguish in Gethsemane. That does not necessarily mean He formed a clique.
The difference, however, lies in purpose and posture. Jesus never used His closer relationships to exclude, elevate, or diminish the value of the other disciples. He loved all of them equally, served them equally, and ultimately laid down His life for every one of them. His inner circle was based on ministry and spiritual preparation, not social preference or favoritism.
The concern arises when close friendships become closed circles, when they unintentionally communicate that some people belong while others remain on the outside. James warns believers against showing favoritism (James 2:1-9), and Paul repeatedly calls the church to unity, mutual honor, and welcoming one another (Romans 15:7; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26).
So I believe we can affirm both truths: it is natural and healthy to have deeper friendships with certain brothers and sisters in Christ, but those friendships should never become barriers that prevent others from feeling welcomed, valued, and included in the family of God. Christ’s example shows that while intimacy with some is natural, impartial love toward all is essential.
Well said. Thank you.
It takes wisdom, maturity, and discernment to know when to speak up and when to remain silent. Life is a school and sometimes the better part of wisdom is to let our words be few. I was counseled years ago that in controversial matters to let God’s Word do more of the talking than myself.
If we follow that principle then we can’t go wrong. Mature and wise Christians may not always agree on everything. Just because we don’t always agree doesn’t mean that we hate each other. Neither should we let differences of opinion become a source of division. Romans 12:18 definitely applies to all of us.
The only hill worth dying on is Calvary. Everything else is “small potatoes,” sometimes even “hot potatoes.” Let’s keep the main thing, the main thing. Jesus is the main thing!
The two greatest commandments are: ‘Love God with all your heart and being, and love your fellow man with humility and willingness to serve each other’s needs.’ – Matt.22:36-40. The further away we move from this Truth, the more issues the adversary of God will find to separate us from focusing on loving God with all our heart and our fellow man.
In my opinion, what frees us to love God with all our heart is that we gave up our ‘right’ to go about life the best way we see fit. This includes ‘keeping the status quo’ or proposing ideas or resolutions to matters of ‘perceived’ importance which easily cause disunity. Focusing on loving God’s Truth eliminates going after our own ‘truths’, especially when it’s inspired by the undercurrent of pride.
Rom.2:11-16 speaks to the Truth that God is no respecter of persons. Everyone accepting Christ Jesus as the Son of God has equal standing before God. If God has accepted the person, who are we, or, on what ground do we decide the ‘deservedness’ or ‘undeservedness’ of a believer to be included in the fellowship of the family of God?
After having been set free from the types of fears common to man, which fears might we still hold on to – fear of what others think about us? In Christ Jesus, all barriers have been removed in order to allow the unity in the Spirit of Christ to flow unhindered through all the ecclesia to create peace and harmony within.
When the Son sets you free you are free indeed – John 8:35-36. In the millenia after Christ, issues of discrimination and segregation should have been eliminated a long time ago if not for the ‘pride of man’. Barriers based on culture, race, gender, or ethnicity ought not to remain any longer. If we truly believe that God is no respecter of persons – uniting us all in/by the Spirit of His Son Jesus Christ – then it is a great sin for redeemed man to accept ‘hold-overs’ from the by the flesh directed former life – Rom.8:6-11.
This quote from the lesson today stood out:
“if we treat human leaders as central to our Christian identity, we risk moving Christ from the correct position in our lives.”
I wonder, what happens when we place a specific leader in the sentence, such as:
“if we treat Ellen White as central to our Christian identity, we risk moving Christ from the correct position in our lives.”
Do we still agree with the sentence? To what extent is Ellen White central to our identity?
If we treat anyone beside Christ, as central to our Christian identity, we not only risk, we actually do move Christ from the correct position in our lives. We can’t really call ourselves Christian if Christ isn’t the central focus of our faith. Paul dealt with this subject over factions in the early church. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.
Martin Luther would be horrified as any truly godly person would be, to know that the church that came out of his reform movement would be named after him. 1 Cor. 1:13-17. These servants (the word is tablewaiters) of the Lord, including all the prophets and apostles were just that, servants, messengers. They too would be horrified if they were made the central focus of our faith. Allow me to repeat myself from yesterday; “keep the main thing, the main thing. Jesus is the main thing.” As Christians, we wear his name. No one else is worthy or capable of taking center stage. They are all “lesser lights leading to the greater light.”
Absolutely, if we make Ellen White central to our identity, we are no longer followers of Christ!
I believe Ellen White was a chosen messenger of Christ, and she kept Christ central in her writings. If we make her central to our identity, we miss the main point of her teachings.
It is possible to be a Seventh-day Adventist without reading any of Ellen White’s writings, but her writings have been and are a doorway to my appreciation of Scripture and of Christ HImself.
Yes, I have recently experienced the friendship of people whom I admire for their “apparent” Christian-like qualities. But after I’ve seen how judgmental they are, it seems like their masks have fallen and their humanity has shone through. Thus, Christ alone is to be trusted!
We are all human! And we all have our flaws – flaws of which we are sometimes unaware.