Thursday, July 9 –
It is Thursday, and as I write this, it’s been hot, sweltering. I don’t know when you read this, but I hope you have a cool spot to take some time for reading. Today we continue our reading in 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 21. Take some time to read the Scripture first, and then please come back, and we’ll walk through the passage together.
Paul’s final words in chapter 3 had contrasted the world’s wisdom – a wisdom that often resorted to jealousy and fights (social media has lots of examples), with the wisdom of Christ. The wisdom of Christ is humble, not comparing, or seeking followers. This wisdom of God is not only humble but submissive to Christ and the work of Christ, in which Paul uses three metaphors - “field,” “building,” “Temple”l. Since the Corinthian believers had a wrong view of leadership, then what is the right perspective?
Paul answers it immediately: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (4:1). Apollos, Paul, Peter were “servants” and “stewards.” We all have a relatively clear picture of a servant. The word “steward” comes from the Greek word “oikonomos.” Look closely, and you can see the word for steward as our English word “Economy.” A Steward was a person in charge of the Lord’s or Master’s household. He was in charge of all the workers, the money He received, and the money to payout. As well the Steward negotiated with buyers and sellers - all for the Lord’s estate. Lords didn’t appoint anyone to this job. A person appointed to be a Steward had to be a trustworthy, faithful person: “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (4:2).
The point Paul makes is that a steward operated under the authority of the Lord, and by the authority of the Lord. Paul hoped they understood, He was called by God to be an Apostle, and He is responsible to God alone for them (4:3). The two verses that follow support the ordinary sense of a steward. They were accountable to their Lord. It was the Lord/Master alone whose judgment matters (4:4). Paul is making a point that no matter whether they liked him or preferred someone else, only God’s final judgment at the end of all things will matter (4:5). In the end, when God’s judgment occurs, nothing will escape his scrutiny – even hidden things! It’s so critical that we understand this. Our lives are lived in public, but when the opinion of others controls them, we are no longer acting under the authority of Christ. Everything comes from God.
In verses 6-7, he applies this to the current tension. In three rhetorical questions that are each answered, “No,” Paul confronts their pride. The Corinthians are not superior to any other church, everything they have has been received, and their boasting is inconsistent with the gifts that God has given to them. In a full-on sarcastic confrontation, he lets loose: “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us, you have become kings! And would that you did reign so that we might share the rule with you”! (4:8). Why such a sharp rebuke? Corinth was second only to Athens in prestige, intellectual pride, and social snobbery. Instead of growing up in Christ through the Spirit humbling guiding them to the truth, they had taken “on” and taken “in” a sense of their own superiority. The word “puffed up” becomes one of Paul’s favorite ways of describing people who are filled with pride and lack humility (4:6).
The contrast of their pride and Paul’s life could not be starker. Reading the following verses reminds us that the life of an Apostle lived was anything but posh surroundings. His calling to be an Apostle meant difficult times of suffering, loneliness, and exclusion.
“For I think that God has exhibited us, apostles, as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things” (4:9-13).
If you were looking for a job and the employer said, “this is what you can expect if you sign up to be an Apostle,” – would you take it? “Fools for Christ,” “weak,” “disrepute to the world,” “hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, homeless” along with blessing those who curse them, enduring persecution, backing off of responding to slander...finally, “the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” Hyperbole? Not when you read the accounts in the book of Acts. Why would he do it? God had called Paul to this ministry, and he answered with a “yes.” God made him a “Father” of the new believers (4:14-15).
The previous stinging rebuked now changes, and Paul appeals to them as a Father: “I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church (4:16-17). Timothy was Paul’s first “child of the faith,” and Paul sent him to them to both make His appeal, as well as to model to them the kind of person they could become. Did they receive Timothy? One can wonder, but it’s clear at the end, Paul is coming at some point to make sure things are in order.
“Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon if the Lord wills, and I will find out – not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (4:18-21).
Has these last few days left you uncomfortable? They are for me. Paul lays it all out in the end. Life in Christ is not a breeze, it is filled with unpleasant choices, and many people who do not know Christ will see those choices as “foolish.” Yet, faithfulness to Christ Jesus should be a primary priority for the choices we make. The church is a “fellowship of Jesus’ people,” not an institution, or a business, or a building. Fellowship works in the context of family. Families need Fathers, Parents, who will demonstrate both sacrifice and service. But, Fathers, Parents, aren’t push-overs. They confront their children’s wrong attitudes and wrong behavior. They have “tough love,” but their goal is always to see their children grow up and become mature. Children often demonstrate immaturity. This contrast between "talk" and "power" has to do with "words" and "actions". The arrogant talk a good talk, but they lack actions that demonstrate maturity. They have a religion of words.
Paul reminds them/us, “...the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (4:20). Our walk speaks louder than our talk!
This is going to prepare us for what is to follow in this letter. It is preparation for confronting sin, not excusing it, or letting it go. The Corinthians were living like people who have one foot in the Kingdom, and one foot in the world - they need to make a decision. Paul is asking them to "put your house in order"...be good stewards and servants who the Master will be proud of when he comes. God deserves people who will love, respect, obey Him, and do it for His glory and honor.
Peace
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