Our Father’s Heart (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)

Apostle Paul is telling the church at Corinth as a father in Christ not to shame them but to warn them. Not many fathers are there these days as well as in the first century. The real father is who is responsible for his family and children unconditionally. The image of true father is depicted in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. As a steward of the mysteries of God, Paul is telling the church to get serious and real instead of being flattered and conceited, knowing the unsearchable riches of glory God designed and intended for us to have even before time began.

“I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:14-17)

Paul urges the church to imitate him, being faithful to the One who called them into the fellowship with Christ Jesus the Lord. Every Christian has been blessed to enter into the communion with Christ. There are certain stages to grow to maturity in the faith of blessed gospel—children, young men, and fathers. No one can grow instantly to the level of maturity. It’s a process, taking time. But one thing is sure that one must grow to maturity even though it may take a long time. Being fed and nurtured faithfully, patiently, and even deliberately by the words of God, one shall grow in Christ, graduating the stage of infants (1 Corinthians 3:1).

It is appropriate to send Timothy to the church to explain the way of Paul’s life in Christ Jesus, which agreed with what he taught everywhere in every church. He was the son of Paul in the faith. In his early young age, he began to accompany the Apostle when he was in his hometown Lystra. Later when Paul was put in prison in Rome, Timothy was sent to Ephesus to minister the church there. This young man proved to be faithful in the Lord Jesus Christ.

He would tell the way of Paul’s life in Christ to the church at Corinth that agreed with what he taught everywhere especially in Achaia. The way of Paul’s life is a miniature of that of Jesus Christ the Lord. He resolved not to know anything other than Christ and Him crucified when he came to the flourishing city of Corinth with great fear and trembling. He appeared not wise or persuasive in words but in the power of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and preached the mysteries of God. He presented all but the realities of life in the light of the true God of heaven and earth.

Through the labor and toil of birth pain, the church was born in Corinth and the multitudes found a true life in Christ Jesus.

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Then the church was blessed by all kinds of spiritual gifts, not lacking anything at all.

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-7)

Paul never changed the language of the gospel anywhere in the church. He always identified himself as the servant of Christ Jesus and never thought of himself beyond. He was faithfully following the Master of the universe, fully acknowledging and being aware of the truth that the Lord judges him in the midst (1 Corinthians 4:3). Also, he was fully aware of that he was not subject to any judgment by the world and its wisdom and philosophy. Like our Lord Jesus fixed His eyes on God the Father in heaven, Paul was carrying the marks of Christ in his body.

“From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17)

Some apparently didn’t like the way Paul was saying in a letter sent earlier because they were conceited and so full of themselves that he would never come to Corinth. They were like someone who determined not to listen to anyone.

“Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:18-21)

Obviously, there were some who didn’t want Paul to come to Corinth out of their arrogance and conceit. They were puffed up with illusions and delusions. Here we see how the Apostle handled the matter in Christ Jesus. When he was told that there were quarrels and dissensions and many other problems, he would have been urged to come to Corinth at once and corrected them. But instead, most likely, guided by the Holy Spirit, he wrote this letter and delivered by the hand of Timothy.

Apostle Paul urgently wanted to go see them face to face if the Lord was willing. Then he wanted to find out not only how these conceited people were talking but more importantly what power they had. That’s the demarcation line between the mature and infants. Whether or not being puffed up or inflated by self-righteousness and pride, we can tell by the demonstration of power, the power of the Spirit which truly transforms one’s heart into more godly and Christ-like. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Apostle James says bluntly and pertinently that the faith not accompanied with power is uselessly dead.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:18-20)

Then Paul is asking them, saying “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?”

The Apostle never bended the truth even a bit but faced it truthfully and openly with the brothers and sisters in Corinth. At the same time, he was compassionate and broken-hearted for them to come to the reality and truth which might lead them to repentance. That’s the heart of God. Our God is waiting patiently and faithfully for anyone to come and drink out of rivers of living water and be overflown with only one condition—by faith.

Prayer: Thank you Father for telling the truth openly and honestly and inviting anyone to come to repentance to have the eternal life, a life that you intended man to live before time began. Lord Father, keep us from being puffed up with empty pride and arrogance out of ignorance and unbelief. Purify and cleanse us continually and faithfully with the blood of Christ as you have promised even before we were born. In His name. Amen. 

When Cursed, We Bless (1 Corinthians 4:8-13)

“Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!” (1 Corinthians 4:8)

Apostle Paul is telling that the Corinthian Christians acted as if the millennium had already arrived. The Amplified Bible renders it like this:

”[You behave as if] you are already filled and think you have enough [you are full and content, feeling no need of anything more]! Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts and graces]! [Without any counsel or instruction from us, in your conceit], you have ascended your thrones and come into your kingdom without including us! And would that it were true and that you did reign, so that we might be sharing the kingdom with you!”

This reminds of the church in Laodicea which our Lord Jesus mentioned in the Book of Apocalypse. The Laodicea church is the church neither hot like the church in Philadelphia nor cold like the church in Sardis. They pretend to be rich, saying “we have everything and don’t need anything more.” But Jesus says that they are poor, pitiful, wretched, blind, and naked. They are complacent, satisfied, contented, and self-righteous. This church is the exact picture of almost every modern churches.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:15-17)

Contrary to their self-complacency and contentment, Apostle Paul was in the position on display at the end of the procession, like those who condemned to die in the arena.

“For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!” (1 Corinthians 4:9-10)

This is a stark contrast between the Apostle and the church at Corinth. He and his companions like Sosthenes and Titus were put in a spectacle to the whole universe, to angles and to human beings. It is surprisingly true that the angels in heaven are watching over us. It means God has put His beloved children in the very spot to teach the angles as well as human beings. No Christian is an exception. God chose Paul and the apostles as the sample people in Christ.

In the Upper Room Discourse, our Lord Jesus comforts the disciples, saying “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Going back the creation, God pronounced the irrevocable prescription for the fallen race. It’s graciously a given time for us to learn how to live in the earth that we cannot escape toil and labor until we return to the dust. Jesus says that man does not live bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The course of life is a precious span of time given by God for us to learn the secret of life in the midst of hard struggle and sweat.

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat food from it

all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

But Paul says to the Corinthian Christians that they have already had everything, saying “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!” Their attitudes were not realistic nor true. It simply reflects the pretense of unreality. Jesus says that His children are like lambs among wolves (Matthew 10:16). Also our Lord says that there will be persecutions and sufferings for the testimony of the gospel and His name’s sake. However, they will not be persecuted but loved if they conform to the world.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

Paul further explains how he and his companions were treated in the world for the cause of defending the gospel of the blessed God.

“To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” (1 Corinthians 4:11-13)

This is the authentic and real picture of Christians. Now, it doesn’t mean that we all should be intentionally and exactly the same as Paul and his companions. What it means is that when such things happen and will do in due time we don’t go panicky but understand that they are part of God’s divine program designed and intended for us to go through and learn the mystery of life.

Jesus says that no servant is greater than the master. “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” (John 15:20) The life of Jesus in the earth truly reflects what Paul went through. Often our Lord went hungry and thirsty, He was in rags, sleeping in the mountains while the disciples went their homes, and He was brutally treated when He was teaching and healing, especially before the Sanhedrin and on the cross of Calvary.

What’s Paul’s reaction to the world? “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” He didn’t fight back nor even try to get even but blessed those who cursed, endured the persecution, and answered kindly to the slanderers. He became the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world. It really reflects the Lord’s attitude toward the people who were against Him. Apostle Peter wrote this way how our Lord reacted when He was suffered and ill-treated without cause.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:23-24)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for telling us bluntly and honestly about the secret of life. Thank you for telling in advance what would follow in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ—persecution and ill-treatment. Lord, keep us from the evil that we may continue to live and manifest the authentic and real lives in Christ by blessing those who curse, by persevering persecutions and sufferings, and by answering kindly to the slanderers. In His name. Amen. 

The Steward of God’s Mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-7)

What would be the title of Apostle Paul if given? He is a servant and steward of God’s mysteries. So are all Christians. He was just a servant of Master. So are Peter, Apollos, and all of us in Christ. The servants of God have been entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is mystery? Mystery is what we desperately want to know and only God can reveal. There are the mysteries of God, the mystery of Christ, the mystery of righteousness, the mystery of lawlessness, the mystery of incarnation, the mystery of the cross, and so on.

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

Life is so complex and complicated. Can any economist give the solution for the world economic problems? Can any doctor give the answer for the diseases? Can any philosopher give the answer for what life is? They can give many answers but the problem is that they are not the answers. Human life is a mystery. So many literatures and articles and books have been written in a desperate effort to find out the answer. Regardless of the vast arrays and volumes of relentless search outcomes, no answer has been found and never will be.

Humans are utterly limited and far from the truth and reality. Humanity in Adam is doomed not to know the truth because all is in the bondage and enslavement of the devil. All the studies and researches in arts and sciences are the activities to find out the secret of life and universe centuries over centuries. However, all has been failing to say that this is it.

Why cannot humans find it? It’s because the mystery of humanity can be opened and revealed only by God who designed and made in His image and likeness. The good news is that our God is willing to reveal it if asked to know it truthfully and honestly. God entrusted Paul with the mysteries, especially the mystery of Christ Jesus.

The weakness of church is caused by the lack of understanding of the mysteries of God. Instead of teaching and learning the mysteries, most churches are spending time how to promote the programs like how to evangelize the world and how to raise the disciples. Also, they keep on teaching the elementary things (things already known) over and over although by this time they ought to be mature and able to teach the mysteries of God.

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2)

As Paul tells, the main function of church is to teach and reveal the mysteries of God. That’s what we ought to stay in focus because we are called to be the servants and stewards of the Lord Jesus Christ. Servant is under the headship of master. We are all under the Headship of Master Jesus Christ. We do obey what Master says to do.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:2-5)

One requirement is faithfulness for the stewards of God’s mysteries. Those who are entrusted with the mysteries of God must be faithful to God who judges. They must be reliable and equipped with accurate knowledge. Also, they are free from the people’s judgment and any human court. The world cannot make any judgment on them. “Indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent,” says Paul. It means he is not completely free from any judgment because there is the Lord who judges him. All shall wait until the Lord comes, judging nothing before the appointed time. We shall not jump to conclusions until all the facts are fully known because we’re utterly limited to know other’s motive in heart. But the Lord will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. Then each will receive their praise from God.

But there will be a day that every motive shall be revealed. It doesn’t mean that we are not being judged now. In fact, the Lord judges everyone according to the deeds. Paul says that the wrath of God is being revealed to those who do not obey the law of God. No one, a believer or non-believer, can escape the judgement of God whenever and wherever God’s truth is violated. It is immediately released from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1:18-19)

Never miss what Apostle Paul says, “At that time each will receive their praise from God.” Why doesn’t he mention judgment? I think it’s because the believers in Christ have already been judged at the moment of receiving Jesus as Lord through faith in the blood of Calvary. Jesus says that those who are in Christ Jesus have already passed the judgment and crossed over from death to life.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

God will reward accordingly. This is a significant and essential truth to which we hold on fast, because the Scripture says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:6-7)

What Paul and Apollos applied to themselves was that they didn’t compete each other. They fully obeyed the Lord and Master who entrusted with the revelation of the mysteries of God. Whatever humans said to Paul didn’t mean much. His conscience was clear. Nevertheless, he was always aware of the ongoing judgment of the Lord. Since he fixed his eyes on the Lord Jesus, the human points on him didn’t bother him at all. That’s what it means of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”

So, Paul gives a warning to the saints at Corinth to follow his example in order not to be puffed up with pride and boast in favor of one against another. What’s the cause in favor of one against another? It’s pride and boast which subtly and imperceptibly deceives the people and makes them think they are superior and set apart from another. “Who makes you different from anyone else?” Paul continues. “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

There is nothing coming from us and everything coming from God. That’s the authentic attitude of people in Christ Jesus the Lord. We have received everything from God from life, present, future, depth, height, dominion, authority, and power to righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Jesus Christ is the bread of life, a living bread. So, we live by Him and through Him and in Him and for Him. Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. In Him we have been sought and found in the kingdom of light. We were in nature the sons of God’s wrath but bought with a price and adopted into the family of God. So, we boast Christ Jesus the Lord if we boast.

That’s the mystery of God expounded and presented to the saints in Christ. The mystery of God cuts off all the false truths and twisted human thoughts smeared into our race. It reveals the ultimate reality of life, purging all illusions, delusions, and unreality.

Prayer: Father in heaven, Thank you for the revelation of the mystery of Christ in which we have found the secret of life—Jesus Christ. There is nothing coming from us but everything coming from God. May we not to jump to conclusions being prompted and provoked by empty pride and boast. In Christ’s name. Amen.