QT 3/3/2025 1 Cor 4:10-21, Living for God and not self

1 Corinthians 4:10–21 (ESV) —

10 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. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 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. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 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. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

 

NOTE: This is quite a rebuke to the church from its spiritual father. They were not suffering in any way for the faith and life was quite easy, but for Paul and his companions, life was very difficult. Why? Should life be difficult? I don’t think that is the point, but it is a good question to ask ourselves. Have I become complacent in my faith? Do I live to have a comfortable life or have I made sacrifices for the sake of the gospel? What really is my goal in life, that is, what is important to me?

 

If Paul lived today, would he give the same rebuke to us? What can we do, that the Corinthians failed to do? I think there are two areas where we all fail and all can do better: our finances and our witnessing.

 

In the area of finances, God is not calling us to live as paupers (well, maybe some but their reward will be great), and we can definitely give more. I think ten percent is a good goal, but if you are wealthy, ten percent is an excuse not to give. By that I mean, the wealthy only giving ten percent allows them to live on a tremendous amount of money. Every year, every increase, I set a goal to give proportionally more than I got. By the time I retired, I found I was giving one whole paycheck a month -- it made it easier to retire. As retired, I went down to ten percent and in two years I have managed to increase it each year. I'm not a pauper, but I don't have money to waste either.

 

In the area of witnessing, it is important to put out our flag early and identify with the savior. The longer we wait, the harder it becomes. Even using something simple as "God bless" as you leave, or in recounting an incident use "the Lord was gracious." These simple phrases can at least identify yourself with belief. The next stage is asking questions, like "what has been your spiritual journey" or "do you have a church," can get a conversation going. The point is that witnessing may make people think less of you -- a certain type of suffering -- but we need to be willing to stand up for and not be ashamed of the savior.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my life comfortable because I keep all my money to myself?
2. Am I held in high esteem because no one knows about my faith?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would give in a manner that honors you and expresses our thankfulness for all that you have done. I pray we would be bold in our witnessing and not ashamed to identify with Jesus.