humility and courage

Good morning friends,
Here we get a healthy dose of Paul's sarcasm. The sarcasm functions to reinforce for the Corinthians that true leadership is humble, not boastful. It seems like the Corinthian church sometimes had trouble with their pride and thinking too much of themselves. Beneath and through his sarcasm, Paul makes two very important points. The first is that God is the only one with the right to judge. That means we don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks about us; our goal is to seek God's will. It also means we should hold back from the temptation to judge others; only God knows the whole story. The second point is that everything we have, even our lives, is a gift from God. If things are going well for us, we should rejoice and give thanks, but we shouldn't get cocky about it since we didn't do it ourselves. If things are not going well for us, we can share our grief with God and others because we are always in God's hand. When we don't worry about recognition or blame we're free to follow God's calling with love and joy.

Blessings as you follow today,

Sam

1 Corinthians 4:1-13

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. 4I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God. 6I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, “Nothing beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another.



7For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? 8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. 10We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, 12and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.