God’s Word is full of wisdom, and in that wisdom is decribed two types of doers: evil doers, righteous doers. Let us examine both and and see where we stand!
Psalms 92 Grass vs. Palm Trees
The 92nd chapter of Psalms talks extensively on evil doers vs righteous doers. The heart of division is portrayed here. The psalmist writes in this psalm that the world is divided.
6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: 9 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. Psalm 92:6-7,9
Evil doers are senseless fools who do not understand. They are enemies of God. Not only will the evil doers be divided from the righteous, but they will be divided within themselves. They will be scattered and perish. The righteous have a secured future.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalm 92:12-15
The psalmist shows that both flourish, but the outcome is very different. The evildoer’s flourish is temporal and soon they will be destroyed, like grass. The righteous doer, however, is likened to a palm tree and cedar, who flourishes into old age and will stay fresh and green.
The difference between the success of the world and a true follower of Christ is the difference between palm trees and grass. Grass lasts a few days, while the palm tree will go on for eternity.
3 Bad attitudes that cause division
In Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth, he gives three bad attitudes that result in evil doers. Paul starts his letter with praise and love. Then he ends his letter with grace and love. In the middle he confronts the issue. I believe this is true to not just the church, but all our relationships. Paul gives us a model in this latter for how to confront issues. Start with praise and love. Confront the issue and end with grace and love.
Paul gives us a recipe for evil doing.
3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:1
IN many ways we learn through scripture, the church at Corinth was one of the most spiritual body of believers, but they were having issues with divisions. Paul said they did not lack an spiritual gifts, but because of bad attitudes, there was division.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Corinthians 3:3
Jealousy
They were acting worldly and comparing each other’s spiritual gifts and arguing which was better and who was better. It is tempting to compare ourselves to each other. It’s even more tempting to get jealous when we hear about others who have been blessed. We start to wonder if any blessing will ever happen to us. We should always have an attitude and not be afraid when other are blessed. If we are not rejoicing and praising God for the blessing of another, we are jealous and feel that someone else got what was supposed to be ours.
We must not envy anyone’s appearance, possessions, social standing, married status, gifts, talents, or job or anything else because that will only hinder our own blessing. Part of having the mind of Christ is the strong desire for other to get ahead of us. We should want and praise God for when others are blessed around us!
Boasting
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s; 1 Corinthians 3:21
Paul is writing here, no more boasting about human men. The problem in this church was people arguing over a difference of opinion and making that opinion a preference. You have to back up to chapter one. The people where arguing who was batter: Jesus, Peter, Apollos, or Paul. Paul is saying wh cares who baptised you and who cares which of these men you like. What matters is the calling of Christ in your lives and the furtherance of the Gospel.
Boasting is the temptation to compare ourselves to others. Boasting brings deep division in all our relationships. When we think we are better than another person, we are speaking from pride. Paul writes:
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1 Corinthians 3:4
WE are all humans!
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 1 Corinthians 3:5
We are all servants.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7
No one planted and no one watered except Christ, so we have nothing to boast about.
Quarrelling
Paul says, we need to stop arguing and taking sides in arguments. Arguments are being unspiritual. They are the root cause of division. Stop arguing over theology. Stop arguing who has the best gifts. Stop arguing which saint is better than the other. We are to take on the humility of Christ and love one another.
All three of these attitudes arise from an inflated view of our own importance. These unspiritual attitudes are common in a fallen world and it not only infects the church, but all our relationships. WE need to understand the importance of being completely dependant upon God. Paul says in verse 6, that planting and water is important, but it is not humans that bring growth of plants. It is the hand of God that make plants, people, and churches grow. We all play an important role in doing.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9
We are co-workers with God and we are God’s chosen field to plant seeds. People try to build their lives on many things: money, education, job, titles, possessions, etc. Jesus is the only sure foundation! Paul also writes that we are God’s temple.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1 Corinthians 3:16-20
Many preachers and teachers focus this verse on the physical aspect of our bodies. They preach and teach about what not to put into our bodies, but I believe it is deeper than that. What we put into our spiritual hearts and allow to fester, infect and grow will be the difference between grass and palm trees. An evil heart will seek to only do evil works and divide. A righteous heart seeks the king of Heaven and to unify and unite.
These three attitude infest and infect our hearts. They are the root cause of pride. An unwillingness to listen, to hear or to see. A willful rebellion against God. A heart infested with pride is a heart that is not filled with the love of God, nor can that heart be used to work grace, mercy or forgiveness. It is a heart that seeks division and following of others to further divide the body of Christ.
Paul writes, I do not want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is yours and you are privileged to be in union with Christ who is in union with God.
21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your’s; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your’s; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
It is only a heart filled with the Holy Spirit that can unify and reconcile us to our Heavenly Father. It is only a heart filled with the Holy Spirit can true reconciliation and unity be found in our churches, homes, jobs, etc.
What is causing division in your relationships? Which of these attitudes might you have? Let us lay our bad attitudes down on God’s altar and choose to allow the Holy Spirit to reunite us and speak to us. Only when unity happens, can real growth come.
It Starts Small 
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