Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:8-20 (CEB)
8 You’ve been filled already! You’ve become rich already! You rule like kings without us! I wish you did rule so that we could be kings with you! 9 I suppose that God has shown that we apostles are at the end of the line. We are like prisoners sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle in the world, both to angels and to humans. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise through Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11 Up to this very moment we are hungry, thirsty, wearing rags, abused, and homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are insulted, we respond with a blessing; when we are harassed, we put up with it; 13 when our reputation is attacked, we are encouraging. We have become the scum of the earth, the waste that runs off everything, up to the present time.
14 I’m not writing these things to make you ashamed but to warn you, since you are my loved children. 15 You may have ten thousand mentors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. I gave birth to you in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 16 so I encourage you to follow my example. 17 This is why I’ve sent Timothy to you; he’s my loved and trusted child in the Lord; he’ll remind you about my way of life in Christ Jesus. He’ll teach the same way as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Some have become arrogant as if I’m not coming to see you. 19 But, if the Lord is willing, I’ll come to you soon. Then I won’t focus on what these arrogant people say, but I’ll find out what power they possess. 20 God’s kingdom isn’t about words but about power.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Contributed by Chris Keller
Paul’s writing to the Corinthians feels like he addressed it to me, “You have all you want! Already you have become rich!” OK, maybe the rich part is stretching the truth a bit. But compared to a majority of the world, there’s some validity to the statement. And as for having what I want, I can thank Amazon for that. In contrast to the people of Corinth, Paul describes himself and other apostles as fools, weak, disreputable, starving, poorly dressed, homeless, and on and on. Reading this makes me wonder why I feel more aligned with the Corinthians than with the Apostle Paul. Shouldn’t I be trying to be more like an apostle than a Corinthian?
I went back to chapter one to try and figure out what Paul meant by this comparison. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Paul explains that the cross is folly to some, while to others it is the power of God. He goes on to say God made the wisdom of the world foolish. This context makes chapter four a bit more digestible, but no less convicting to this Corinthian.
During the chapter 4 comparison between the Corithians and the apostles, Paul demonstrates how the wisdom of the world is not the same as God’s wisdom. The Corinthians may have been rich and content, but were they following the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world?
There is one specific comparison that is personally jarring. In verse 10 Paul says of the apostles, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ.” Once again, I fear that I relate to the Corinthians. I like to think I’m wise, who doesn’t? I also like to think that I have some understanding of Christ and his teachings. But I don’t like to look foolish; actually I hate it. There’s no worse experience for me than being in a situation where people expect me to have a particular knowledge, but I am completely ignorant. So, what’s the deal? Why does Paul want us to be fools for Christ rather than wise in Christ? I suspect that the subtle difference between these two phrases is key. Being wise in Christ is an academic knowledge of Him and scripture. However, being foolish for Christ must be putting Christ’s teachings into practice.
Doing what Christ taught often appears foolish to the world: showing grace, forgiving our enemies, giving of our wealth, putting others first. Fred Sistler’s message from February 16th on the fear of death and illness perfectly explained this concept. His deconstruction of the worldly wisdom found in the phrase “the treatment is better than the alternative” showed that if we can be fools for Christ we can overcome the fear of illness and death and even, sometimes, see God working in those situations.
Prayer
Lord, during this Lenten season and beyond, help me to let go of my pride. Allow me to be a fool for the sake of Christ. Let me see the world through your wisdom, not my own. Teach me to obediently follow your teaching, not just to understand. Lord, mold my will to Yours. I am but clay Lord; be my Potter. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,
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