1 Corinthians 4

Wow... Last night was the all-nighter at church, and I'm glad we don't do that more often. It's very difficult on the body. You do gain the night, but you lose a lot of energy, and most of the next day. That day being today. I did, however, get to go to the King's Senior Class Graduation. That was fun. They did a good job of making the time reasonable. Speeches were short and sweet, and it was quite organized. I got to be a flag bearer with Lindley Graham. That was fun. Well... I'm not sure how much time I have to write this entry, so I'll stop blabbing about my day and start getting to chapter 4.

It's 21 verses long, and starts with Paul telling the Corinthians that we as Christians are "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (v.1). We are responsible for keeping and dispensing the words of the New Testament - the mysteries of God that have now been revealed. One requirement for these servants is that they are faithful (v.2). We need to be loyally obedient to Christ, taking up our cross daily as we also deny ourselves. However we need not worry what other people say of our faithfulness, but what God's verdict is with respect to our faithfulness. This was Paul's attitude as he expressed it in verse 3 and 4. Only God can decide for sure who has been faithful (v.4). Paul was even sure enough to say that he knew nothing against himself. He had a clear conscience before men and before himself and before God, but knew that since he was still imperfect he couldn't be justified by this fact (v.4). He reiterates the fact that only God can be the judge in verse 5. This verse is another verse on heavenly rewards, when God will judge who has been faithful and to what extent, at which point he will applaud us for our inner devotion.

The next section, as I read it, seems to imply that the Corinthians had been caught up in the sin of pride. Verses 6 and 7 contain Paul's rebuke of the Corinthians, showing them that they have no reason to boast - since everything they have was given to them, not earned or deserved. Then verses 8-13 are quite surprising, and I must wonder whether this was a mistake: sarcasm as a form of rebuke. I have often wanted to get sarcastic with some people who were being arrogant or hypocritical, but I resisted, fearing that I would become just the same as them. Perhaps Paul knew the correct attitude to be taken when doing this, and was careful enough to not fall into a pride of his own.

Basically in these verses Paul "praises" the Corinthians for being high and mighty while he and the other apostles are considered the lowest of the low (v.13), poorly cared for (v.11), and doing the work of slaves (v.12). He tells them that they are wise is Christ, while he and the apostles are fools and that they are strong, while he is weak (v.10). Certainly he couldn't have meant these things, as he was just rebuking them for being proud, so it would seem sarcasm is no new concept. Not even to an apostle. And here I was, thinking sarcasm was not an appropriate way to go about correcting.

Paul does explain himself in the last verses. He assures them that he is not simply their teacher, but that he cares deeply for them as a father (vv.14,15). In the same way, we should seek to be fathers to those we are discipling, not only teaching them, but caring for them as for family. After all, if they are Christians, they are family to us in Christ. We then also need to be examples to them, as if they were looking up to us as if a parent, which is what Paul intended when he exhorted them to imitate him. He was bold, but convinced that since he was following Christ, they could follow him and so be led to Christ.

Paul wanted to come to them, but could not come right away, so he sent Timothy, a trusted disciple (v.17). And apparently some didn't care (v.18). They took the "I haven't broken the law until I am caught" attitude. Paul challenged them, since he knew that probably they were not as powerful as they made themselves out to be. He explains that - excuse the cliche - although some people can talk the talk, they can't, or don't, walk the walk (v.19). The kingdom of God is about the walking (v.20). Walk with Christ - that is the power of God, not simply being able to give the right answer to every question.

Are you living by the power of God? Or are you just flapping your lips?