When we lived in Oregon you became aware of a few things you don’t really think about growing up in Pennsylvania. One of those things is recycling. We threw out everything as a boy growing up in Wilkes-Barre, PA: Paper, plastic, glass. It didn’t matter or cross our minds about the ecological effect we might be having on the environment. As a matter of fact, once, when I was in the Navy, I gave myself an oil change over a storm drain so I didn’t have to worry about the hassle of finding a place to discard old motor oil.
Another thing that’s not really on the radar back home is healthy choices. I grew up eating salty foods, Middlesworth potato chips, chicken wings, Raman noodles, hotdogs, kielbasa, breads, rolls, lunchmeat, etc… The northeastern section of the US is one of the least healthy sections of America. It seems to be about food, family, and faith and let the health cards lie where they will.
Things aren’t like that in the Pacific Northwest. People are more active and concerned about nutrition and what goes into the body. There are plenty of all-natural grocery stores in every area of the city of Portland, OR, where we lived.
When we moved to our first apartment they gave us recycling bins and a letter telling us what was acceptable for recycling. I was hooked. With four small children I wanted to do whatever I could to help preserve this terra firma, or earth, we spend our lives on. After all, it didn’t cost me any money, only a little bit of time sorting trash.
We got to the point that we recycled cereal boxes, plastic grocery bags, milk jugs, and other plastic containers. Even as far down as the core for the toilet paper was put in a bin to be recycled. To this day I’m glad we actively participated in this.
We even got into the health aspect of living in the Pacific Northwest. It has long ago been determined that we spend a lot of time and effort in America fighting symptoms rather than getting to the core of what ails us. We take a pill for blood pressure, for hot flashes, and for headaches. We try to find an easy cure for baldness, for being overweight, or for getting wrinkles. We would prefer to get an antibiotic first thing rather than work to stimulate our own immunity that God has given to us.
In Oregon I did a lot of studying in the homeopathic and naturopathic health care areas. Our kids suffered with asthma when younger and early on depended upon nebulizers and inhalers. Eventually we stopped most attacks with freeze dried nettles and plastic coverings over sheets and pillows to kill dust mites.
Flu season rarely affected us due to the use of Echinacea during the winter seasons. Now when I get a severe cold I treat it with a little cough and cold medicine but a healthy dose of Echinacea, zinc coated natural cough drops, and a lot of vitamin C.
I say this to remind us that good health is not gotten by taking a medicine to mask the symptoms. Instead, real health is maintained by having the proper perspective and practicing the right choices so that you can avoid getting sick in the first place.
This is what Paul is trying to teach the church at Corinth. The church there was sick. They suffered with the disease of disunity. If Paul wanted to mask the symptom, he would have just told the church that they need to get along with one another and not worry if others don’t agree with them.
Instead, Paul went to the root of the problem and told them their allegiance was to men, or to their own wisdom, and not to the Lord, Jesus Christ. This was to be a pre-emanate attribute if they were to be a strong and unified church.
Instead of being humble in the fact that God, in His mercy, had chosen to offer them eternal life, they were proud of the fact that they were wise in their own eyes and had proven this by choosing allegiance to church leaders who also appeared to be the best leaders. There is no place in the church or in the Christians life for pride. There wasn’t then and there isn’t now.
PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been written that, “God wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily.” I guess this means we are not to be proud or depressed. (powerpoint)
Pride is one of those things that gets us into a lot of trouble. During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.
David Rhodes describes pride this way, “Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness.” (powerpoint)
Throughout scripture God lifts up those with the characteristic that is opposite of pride; Humbleness. When Abraham was interceding for Sodom he said this in Genesis 18:27 – “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord” (powerpoint)
When Jacob was afraid that he was going to be attacked by his brother Esau he said, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Gen 32:10) (powerpoint)
When God called Gideon to deliver his people from Midian he said this to God, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” (Judges 6:15) (powerpoint)
We also see examples in the New Testament. John the Baptist told the crowds, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” (Luke 3:16) (powerpoint)
In Ephesians 3:8 Paul considered himself to be, “me, who am less than the least of all the saints” (powerpoint)
Humbleness is even seen in the Lord Jesus Christ himself when He took upon himself the form of a man. Paul put it this way in Philippians 2:5-8- “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (powerpoint)
Let’s look at how Paul begins to wrap up what is really the introductory part of this letter.
(title powerpoint)
***** 1 Corinthians 4:6-13
Paul mentions his reasoning here for the figures that he applied to himself, and Apollos. Remember what they were? In 3:6-9 he described them as farmers, in 3:10-15 he used the term builders, and in 4:1-5 Paul referred to them as servant-stewards.
Paul tells the readers that this is so that they might use these spiritual leaders as examples. A true minister of the gospel ought to be a servant and a steward. Servants are faithful and meek; not proud. Stewards are trustworthy and submissive; not arrogant. Pride and arrogance were not evident in the lives of Paul and Apollos and, since they are our examples, those attributes should not be evident in our lives either.
Paul says that we ought not be “puffed up”, or arrogant. In the Greek the word is phusioo (foo-see-o'-o); to inflate, i.e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty): This reminds me of the puffer fish that some of us have seen pictures of.
These slow swimmers defend themselves by inhaling huge amounts of water to increase their size several times larger than its original size. (Show before puffer picture). This does not look intimidating but notice the change. (Show after puffer picture). Quite a fearsome looking creature now. This animal gives a false image of itself to intimidate others and to give a false sense of security.
We sometimes do this as individuals. We give off an air or attitude to mask our own real or self-perceived inadequacies.
1 Corinthians 4:7 – “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
(powerpoint)
There was a sense of inequality in the church at Corinth. Not the “woe is me” type you normally think of when it comes to comparing oneself to others. This was more of a “look at me” mentality.
Paul inquires as to where they got the idea that one was better than the other. He asks two questions invoking logical reasoning to get his readers to think; 1. What do you have that you have not received (from God)? 2. Since it is obvious that you received all you have in Christ from God, why do you act as if you did not receive it?” You boast as if you have accomplished everything by your own power or merit. (title powerpoint)
It reminds me of those stupid reality shows I have had the misfortune to see a few seconds of. Shows like Jersey Shore or The Real World. You have young adults with no jobs living a life of leisure, parties, and immorality acting as if they are better than other people. As if they deserved having rich parents or producers who pay them to live as if they have no conscience. Real life isn’t like the shows that permeate this false illusion to too many of our young people. In the real world decisions have consequences and the folly of sin is but for a season.
Sometimes we, as Christians, act similar to those individuals on these ridiculous reality shows. We act as if we are better than those who have never placed their faith in Christ. I know I have been guilty more than once of looking down my spiritual nose at someone and thinking I am better than someone because I am not involved in their sin.
Yet this is not by my doing. I am just a sinner saved by grace. If you are a Christian you have done nothing to merit your salvation. It is not as if God looked down from glory and saw us and said, “Why that person will turn out to be a fine fellow, or lady, and therefore I will choose to save them.”
Salvation is a gift of God that is a result of His grace. Remember, the definition of grace is “unmerited favor”. You and I did nothing to deserve salvation and we can do nothing to keep it. The Jesus who loves us is the same one who loves and died for the lost. Don’t forget that for a second my friends.
It is at this point that Paul injects some sarcasm into his letter.
1 Corinthians 4:8 – “You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us -- and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!”
(powerpoint)
Paul is telling the readers of Corinth that they have already arrived spiritually. “You are already full! You are already rich! You already reign!” Paul states that he wishes that were true. His reason? As the leaders in the church, the one God has chosen to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, their lives are nothing like that. Look at the comparison Paul gives in verses nine through thirteen.
***** 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
The apostles live with a death sentence upon them. They are a spectacle for all of God’s creation to see. The Greek word for spectacle is theatron (theh'-at-ron); a place for public show ("theatre"), by implication, a show itself.
They were considered fools for following Christ. The Corinthians would rather be noted for wisdom.
Paul and the others were considered weak while the Corinthian church wanted to be strong.
The apostles were dishonored while the church in Corinth was distinguished.
Paul goes on to list his and others like him present situation. They were hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, and had to provide for themselves. In the Greek the word for toil gives the impression of working to the point of exhaustion. Don’t forget that manual labor was beneath the Greeks. This was the jobs of slaves.
He then describes his and other’s attitudes and actions in spite of how others were treating them. Paul states they were reviled, or abused with words. In return they blessed others with their words. They were persecuted but never fought back. Their reputation was smeared but they sought to encourage.
Paul sums it up by saying that he, and others in his position were considered the scum of the earth. My friends, who here wants to be looked down upon? How many of us would choose to make our faith known if we were to be ridiculed for it? Wouldn’t we rather others praise us? Don’t we prefer our life of ease?
Have you ever thought that maybe we are missing out on certain blessings because we prefer the easy route? Has it ever crossed your mind that Christians in persecuted countries have it better than we do here in the USA? Have you ever wondered if prosperity is Satan’s trap?
I think too often we can be compared to the church at Laodicea rather than the Berean believers. You remember the Bereans from Acts 17:11. It was said of them, “they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily” (powerpoint)
Yet this is what the Lord had to say to the church in Laodicea, Rev 3:17 – “Because you say,' I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked “ (powerpoint)
Let us remember the words of our Savior as we find them in the Beatitudes
(title powerpoint)
***** Matthew 5:1-12
As the day of the Lord comes closer we have become a post-Christian nation. God and His word are no longer used as the moral compass here in America
So what are we to do? How can we apply this to our own lives? Let’s look at the improper views of the people in the church at Corinth and compare it to our own lives.
Do we care more about what the world thinks of us or more of what God thinks?
Is it their approval we are longing for? Let’s take it a step farther. Do we want other Christian’s approval more than God’s? Have you found yourself wavering in Biblical convictions because you don’t want to be considered a “goody-two-shoes” by others in the church?
Has the flesh crept in and said “everyone else in the church is doing it?” A. Everyone is not doing it, just those you are trying to fit in with. And B. even if everyone else in the church is doing it and God’s word states the contrary, then don’t do it.
Are you a fool for Christ’s sake? Meaning, are you willing to be ridiculed by those outside and inside the church for standing firmly upon the word of God?
Have you suffered at all for the gospel? We have already mentioned suffering in that you are rejected by others. I am asking have you ever denied yourself so that others may benefit from it? Do you give sacrificially to the cause of the gospel or do you give from your excess?
Have others ever looked down upon you because of your faith in Christ? We bristle at the very idea of others placing themselves above us in any way. Let alone for our faith since we know the truth.
The apostle Paul and the other leaders in the early church expected nothing different. In chapter four and verse one they thought of themselves only as galley slaves. The lowest of the low when it came to servants.
May we remember that we are only galley slaves for Jesus. That if we have anything in this world it is by His mercy and grace. This being the case may we be willing, or should I say wanting, to give this all up for the cause of the gospel.
We are speeding toward election time and I will close with the words of the great American president, Abraham Lincoln.
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”
A. Lincoln, Proclamation of a day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, 1863.
PRAYER!!!!!!
