This sermon (1 Corinthians 4: 1 - 21) was preached at West Ewell Evangelical Church, Surrey, on Sunday 15 November 2015.
Introduction
The epistle was written 30 years after Paul had established the church in Corinth.
The Corinthian Christians were living in a society where anything goes – lack of morals and ethics, the multiplicity of religions – just like our nation.
The key of the epistle is found in 1: 3 – having to learn in light of grace and peace from God.
We are going to look at the important areas of:
1. Having an honest opinion
2. Being the best
3. Imitating Christ
These issues are Important – they applies to all in the church, for the epistle not exclusive to leaders.
1. Having an honest opinion
In verse 1, ‘ministers’ literally referred to ‘under-rower,’ those who rowed in the lower berth of oars in a large ship – so there are no airs and graces.
(The word us reminiscent of 3: 5, where ‘servants’ originally meant table waiters.)
The word ‘stewards’ (note: that it is in the plural) meant originally the overseer of estate, work deputed by landowner – he was over others, but he was also subject to his master. There was whole area of responsibility and accountability – which will result in not to having an inflated opinion of ourselves.
No-one is excluded for as we are reminded in 1 Peter 4: 10 – ‘Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’
We will look at gifts in more depth in future as we move through the book.
Romans 12: 3 – ‘For by the grace [that word again!] given me I say to every one of you: Do not think more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.’
George McDonald stated: ‘It matters little where a man may be at this moment; the point is whether he is growing.’
Anon said: ‘No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow your progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.’
Or as Yoda (‘Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’) commented: ‘Do, or do not. There is no ‘try’.’
In verse 12, ‘work hard’ signifies really hard work to point of weariness.
Verse 3, ‘judge’ is the word used in courtroom for public examination. We have to be reminded that the bigger picture is what God thinks. In New Testament times, only the masters had the legal right to judge their servants, as Paul and we are God’s servants so only God can judge us. We can be harder on ourselves, reluctance to praise self.
We need to find the place where God wants to be. if you think not got a role, then you are denying the gifts and talents that God has given you, and denying the your purpose on earth that God has for you.
We need to find our role. Whatever situation we find ourselves, we have the need to encourage next generation. In verse 15, it was not the teachers but slaves who superintended welfare of children (e.g. took them to school) so we might not be in so-called major role as each person vital in God’s work. Like Paul, our relationship to be unique as Father’s love.
We are not doing by ourselves (verse 9). We are being encouraged by angels and men and women. In Hebrews 12: 1, we are told we are surrounded by clouds of witnesses – we are being cheered on.
Are you being cheered on? We cannot move on if we are in the figurative chair, doing nothing.
2. Being the best
We are reminded again in Romans 12 (verse 2) – ‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’
N T Wright wrote: ‘What you do in the present – by painting, preaching, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbour as yourself – will last into God’s future.’
In verse 5, we are reminded that the Day of the Lord is certain, although the timing is unknown.
Part of that is working together – as we remember that in 3: 16 – 17 where ‘you’ plural and ‘temple’ singular.
Maximus in the film ‘Gladiator’ said: ‘Whatever comes out of those gates, we have a better chance of survival if we work together.’
In verse 12, ‘labour’ or ‘work hard’ signifies hard work to the point of weariness. Our challenge is as to how much effort we really put into the work that God has given for us to do. We need to put heart and soul into the work (including training, reading, etc.) that God has for us.
We cannot be self-sufficient (verse 8) – we need to rely on God.
In verse 9, Paul is not not railing against God but seeing God’s plan, which is exhibited in Paul’s list.
We need to be the best – which is not perfectionism (a real danger in itself) but we are to strive in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Imitating Christ
We are reminded in verse 16 that we are to imitate Paul, who also points to God (Ephesians 5: 1) – ‘Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’
J. Hudson Taylor stated: ‘God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him.’
Verses 6 – 7 are a warning to us not to go beyond scripture for the Bible will be the antidote to pride.
Character is important: Helmut Thielick told a bright university student: “You are very gifted.” The young man blushed with pride, and so Thielick quickly added: “I did not say you were a good man; all I said was that you were gifted, and of course you have nothing to do with that.”
We are reminded that we need to have the eternal perspective. We are also told in Philippians 2: 5 – 11 that we are to reflect the attitude of Jesus: self-sacrificing.
Mark Dever wrote: ‘The biggest danger secularism poses to the church is that we start to focus on this world and neglect the next.’
In verse 9, ‘condemned to die’ was the term used of condemned criminals – cf. martyrdom, persecution. We are called by God to suffer for our faith, not to have easy life – most Christians in the world are experiencing this as reality.
There is the contrast between strong and honour against those who are weak and dishonoured. Jesus was willing to stoop low in order that we might be raised and that He would be glorified as we were reminded in the communion service.
Persecution was experienced by Jesus Himself – we follow a crucified criminal according to the Roman justice system.
‘Brutally treated’ (verse 9) is the same word as the ill-treatment of Christ (Matthew 26: 67), also the word ‘cursed’ was used of Christ (1 Peter 2: 23).
In verse 13, ‘filth’ or ‘scum’ referred to that which is removed as result of cleaning all around – we are like the encrusted ring around a neglected cup. We will be treated with utter distain, like our Lord.
We should go beyond what the world expects – ‘bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you’ (Luke 6: 28) and ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ (Matthew 5: 44)
We need to imitate the attributes of Christ – we need to work our salvation through the redemption of Jesus so that all we do honour and pleases God.
Conclusion
Henry Ward Beecher wrote: ‘The church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.’
it means that we have to address the hard issues, where we and others are itching (such as looking at the cost of real discipleship, sex and relationships, death and bereavement). The world is watching what we are saying or doing, or not.
a) Having an honest opinion – should look at what God has given to us in gifts and abilities (will look at more in epistle), what God given to us to do
b) Being the best – prayer, Bible, training, reading
c) Imitating Christ - central
Although this church is going through uncertain times, the main thing is how God is dealing with us as individuals. Although we sing of 'walk with God and talk with God along the narrow way,' what has He been doing this recently? How we react in the crucible (those times of testing and trial) reveals our walk with God.
As we have been hearing in our small Bible group, God is more interested in the development of the dreamer than in the fulfilment of the dream. We are reminded that we are to 'keep in step with the Spirit' (Galatians chapter 4).
As we finish, Paul reminds us in 11: 1: ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ’ and (1 Thessalonians 1: 6) ‘You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.'
