Answer this question for yourself: “I feel good about my life when …” In a way, the Apostle Paul could be asking the Corinthians to consider this question when they judge him. If you answer the question: “I feel best when external circumstances are not difficult and when others validate me” – then you would be pretty much right where the Corinthians were. But Paul offers a different perspective on how to evaluate his ministry, and I think it offers us a different perspective to look at if indeed we desire to be more dynamic and effective in our ministry for the Lord.
In this chapter I want to ask you to consider three questions:
Are you willing to appear as a fool in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
Who is the main author of the book of your life?
Are you willing to be differentiated from the world in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
In the continuing arguments against the Judaizers who had infiltrated Corinth, Paul encourages the Corinthians to fully and freely receive God’s reconciling work on the cross—even if that means going through hardship and turmoil, and to embrace his work as their spiritual father—acknowledging his love and sacrifice for them, and encouraging them to let go of the worldly, fleshly values that the false teachers brought with them.
It’s a tricky subject that have led some to fully get lost in the world and others to cloister themselves completely from all contact—neither of which are correct.
1 – 2
The first thing that Paul seems to be saying is “listen up, Corinthians—God’s grace through the cross is important—so stop fooling around with mixing worldly values with godly ones!” The word “appeal” or “urge” was a word used by an authority figure as a command, yet one delivered diplomatically. By trying to earn God’s favor through external obedience, and by using worldly external impressiveness as a gauge of success, they were making a mockery of God’s grace—which is unmerited favor.
He quotes Isaiah 48 . The Jews knew that God would one day show His favor. Paul tells them that this is the day—that the coming of Jesus Christ is God’s acceptable time and today is the day of salvation.
If we are waiting for a better sale on salvation, there isn’t going to be one. The day of salvation is here until the ad expires and God will no longer offer it. You don’t know when your life will end so don’t squander another minute existing outside of God’s love. There are no rain checks in the next age.
Next, Paul turns to the first of the three questions: Are you willing to appear as a fool in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
3 – 10
Paul did not want his actions to in anyway distract from the gospel. Oh, if only we were to take that into consideration when we spoke or acted. Paul lists the character of his life and ministry—probably a much different list than the false teachers presented.
Verse 5 presents his physical circumstances—difficult to say the least.
In verse 6 he presents the transformation of his character into the image of Christ.
Verse 7 presents how the Holy Spirit works outwardly from his life.
In verse 8 are the results of those actions externally—for those who are perishing the reaction was dishonor and accusations of being a deceiver. For those who responded to the gospel message it was glory and a good report.
Verses 9 and 10 contain how the package is viewed: though Paul was well known, the cool and wise of this age could care less. These same would chasten Paul but not deter him. His grief was real when the flesh and this age prevailed, yet he rejoiced in the ultimate victory of the Lord. He gave up so much in this age (“poor”) yet gave such riches to those around him who accepted the gospel in the age to come. He might appear to have nothing—no success, no impressiveness, yet in reality he possessed everything because he had the key to life—the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now let me contrast that with what the Judaizers presented to the Corinthians:
Influential Pedigree (man’s favor is all that really matters)
Incredible skills (It’s all about the presentation—style over substance)
Impressive appearance (to look good is to be good)
Pleasing doctrine (earn favor by obedience, a hard life means a bad life)
So contrast that with how Paul’s life came across—always in trouble, always getting picked on, never standing up for himself, never taking credit for anything, always looking back to Jesus. Now honestly, if you were applying for a job as an ambassador for Christ and saw two different job descriptions, which one would you choose? A life of ease, indulging the flesh, getting honor by others—or the kind of life Paul lived? Seriously, do we really want to be that kind of ambassador? Honestly I think we kind of like the Judaizers job description better, don’t we?
So, Are you willing to appear as a fool in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
So next we come to question 2. Who is the main author of the book of your life?
11 – 13
It comes down to: who is the main author in the book of your life? If your name is at the top then you can spin it any way that makes you look good and your life will be so much pulp fiction. If God is at the top you may be in for a roller coaster but the book will be a much better read.
Paul’s life was not only an open book to be written upon by God but it was also open to being read by the Corinthians with no editing out the bad parts. Yet the Corinthians had closed their lives off from Paul and had pretended like they didn’t really know him for who he was: their spiritual father and guide. They had limited their “affections” towards him.
It was like he was saying to an obstinate child: “stop pulling yourself away from me and come and run into my arms.”
I think that sometimes we as Christians do that to our Father in heaven. When we really want to act in the flesh the first thing we do is wall ourselves off from that still small voice from the Holy Spirit telling us we are about to go off track.
So finally we get to question 3: Are you willing to be differentiated from the world in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
Conclusions
Question 1: Are you willing to appear as a fool in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
I think this starts with re-recognizing our purpose here as apprentices of Jesus Christ: to be transformed into His image so that we can effectively share His love and gospel. Sometimes that’s going to mean being misunderstood, even abused. We need to realize that how a Christian appears to the world is not reality.
The pressure is really growing on Christians here in America to dissociate with the values of Christ and associate with the values of this world. It doesn’t mean we start name calling—Jesus calls us to love our enemies and he hung out with sinners—but it was not to celebrate sin but to share that we are all cursed apart from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Are you willing to experience discomfort in this age in order to help others experience comfort in the next age?
Be like Christ even if it means being different from those around you, letting God write the pages of your book.
Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive. 14 Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. 16 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Question 2: Who is the main author of the book of your life?
If we can answer question 1 with “yes” then God can become the primary writer of the events of our lives. It might mean you experience difficult things, but as you depend more and more on the Lord and realize more and more your purpose, then those difficulties are put into a context and you start looking for the things like the “enriching” you do, despite the way the world looks at you. Being light in darkness means you have to be in the dark.
