Belong to the Giver
3 Reflections
A church can divide over good leaders. The division in Corinth wasn’t caused by bad leaders. Paul, Apollos, and Peter were genuine, anointed, gifted men. Nobody in that church was following a heretic. The problem was what the people did with good leaders — they became enamored with the gifts and organized themselves around them. So Paul asks, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). Gifting is attractive, and it will always gather people. That’s how the Giver designed it. He gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers “for the equipping of the saints” (Ephesians 4:11–12). But the gift exists to bring people to the Giver — never to itself. The moment people camp around the gift, Christ gets divided into fan clubs.
The best leaders work themselves out of a job. Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Follow me as far as I’m following Him — and the moment my path and His diverge, follow Him. That’s a leader keeping himself in the courier position: carrying people toward Jesus, never collecting them. Paul warned the church of Ephesus about the counterfeit: wolves who would rise up “to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30). Same gathering power. Opposite destination. A kingdom leader does what the Holy Spirit does — “He will glorify Me” (John 16:14). He’s a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord (Psalm 84:10): he opens the door, points inside, and stays out of the way.
Only one name was crucified for you. Paul doesn't argue with the fan clubs, but he does ask two questions: "Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:13). Apollos taught the Corinthians, but he didn't bleed for them. Peter walked with Jesus, but he can't put you in Jesus. Our teachers give us words. Only Christ gives us Himself. That's what "I am of Christ" actually means — you've been joined to Him, and His life is now your life. Everything else is a gift handed to you along the way: a preacher who opened the Scriptures, a church that took you in, a leader who helped shape you. Receive them with gratitude. But when they move on, or fall, or disappoint you, the name you were baptized into doesn't go anywhere.
“Let my name perish; but let Christ’s name last for ever.” - George Whitefield
2 Scriptures
“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas… all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:5
1 Action
Ask yourself:
when I walk away from a sermon, a podcast, or a conversation with a leader I love, whose name am I talking about?
If you lead, watch where people go when your gift gathers them. If they leave talking about you, recalibrate. If they leave talking about Jesus, keep going. If you follow, thank God today for the leaders who point you to Jesus.
Grace and peace,
NEIL
