The Cost of Being a Real Father
Paul was a spiritual father to those he taught about Jesus. He writes of the work and trust that God gave him and others like him in the ministry of the good news of Jesus.
It is a work of fatherhood and spiritual nurturing that does not end with teaching.
It is living, breathing, blessing, and pouring out your life into the soul of your spiritual children.
Anyone can raise a kid into an adult. It takes a father to grow them into a Godly Person.
Look Back at 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1: The Radiant King – The Wisdom of the Cross
1 Corinthians 2: The Unimaginable Uncovered – Spirit to spirit
1 Corinthians 3: A Radiant Temple – God’s Temple
Now let’s look at 1 Corinthians 4:
There isn’t much difference between being an apostle, a pastor, or a father
Are you going to cut a thin line or leave a wide swath?
I was speaking this past week to Tim Gieson, a business man who attends MCC with his family. He has helped grow a local software company from a small group of partners to 30+ employees who help to serve some 1500 cities and townships in Michigan. He commented that he really felt the burden of helping to provide for their families and that it was more than simply building a company - it was taking care of people.
It’s not about what you teach. It’s about how you live. How you live will determine whether you leave a thin line or a wide swath.
First: Serve God
1 Corinthians 4:1-3
1People should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted with his secrets. 2 Now in this way those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust. 3 As for myself, I do not care if I am judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.
Servants of God
1People should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted with his secrets. 2 Now in this way those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust.
We are first and foremost in life the servant’s of God.
Oikonomos – It refers to "the steward" of the house. He is one that is entrusted with things. This is not a field hand. This isn’t a throwaway job that is meaningless. This is the important stuff.
Can you think of anything more important than being given responsibility for a life? Father’s your children are your greatest responsibility.
Physically and spiritually! You need to be the leader here.
It doesn’t matter what others think of you
3 As for myself, I do not care if I am judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.
God is the judge of your efforts – no one else. It doesn’t matter what others think of your efforts. It doesn’t matter what the world court thinks of your efforts. It, frankly doesn’t matter what you think of you. God is the only judge that matters.
4 I know of no wrong I have done, but this does not make me right before the Lord. The Lord is the One who judges me.
It matters what God thinks
He entrusted to Paul the spiritual responsibilities of the gospel of Christ to the church in Corinth.
God has entrusted to me the spiritual responsibilities of the gospel to the church that meets in the Chippewa Middle School. Meridian Christian Church.
Whew, I’m off the hook. No, you are not. God has entrusted to you your children. You are Fathers and you have responsibilities. You are a steward of life.
Second: Pay the Price
1 Corinthians 4:8-13
8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are rich. You think you have become kings without us. I wish you really were kings so we could be kings together with you. 9 But it seems to me that God has put us apostles in last place, like those sentenced to die. We are like a show for the whole world to see—angels and people.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are very wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You receive honor, but we are shamed. 11 Even to this very hour we do not have enough to eat or drink or to wear. We are often beaten, and we have no homes in which to live. 12 We work hard with our own hands for our food. When people curse us, we bless them. When they hurt us, we put up with it. 13 When they tell evil lies about us, we speak nice words about them. Even today, we are treated as though we were the garbage of the world—the filth of the earth.
Children are not mature
8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are rich. You think you have become kings without us.
Children are not mature. Now you would think that people would understand this simple truth but amazingly many people don’t. They think children are miniature adults. They see teenagers and skinny grownups.
I’m sorry, kids, it isn’t so. Maturity comes with age and experience and there are no short cuts. But…
A Father’s counsel is often unheard
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are very wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You receive honor, but we are shamed…
Fathers have to be willing to pay the price. Have you ever seen a teenager that treats their father like he has an IQ of three? Happens all the time. In fact, it kinda goes with the territory.
Look at what the people in Corinth were putting Paul through. He was their spiritual father. This passage is pure sarcasm and irony. And you thought the Bible was a book of poetry and nice sayings!!!
Real Fathers are willing to pay the price
11 Even to this very hour we do not have enough to eat or drink or to wear. We are often beaten, and we have no homes in which to live. 12 We work hard with our own hands for our food. When people curse us, we bless them. When they hurt us, we put up with it. 13 When they tell evil lies about us, we speak nice words about them.
SHOOT THEM ALL
Now I don’t really mean it – most of the time. But you think I’m bad. Listen to the apostle Paul! He really reams these people out.I think that Paul was saying something like this. Look at what the people in Corinth were putting Paul through. He was their spiritual father and they were saying that they were and acting like they were better than he was. This passage is pure sarcasm and irony. And you thought the Bible was a book of poetry and nice sayings!!!They think they are so sharp and they are not!Listen; to be a good and Godly leader, a Father, you have to pay the price. You have to sacrifice stuff. You have to sacrifice time. You have to sacrifice honor and respect. And the people you sacrifice for don’t even understand you.
The big joke for ministers is that we only work for an hour on Sunday. “What a job!” they say – chuckle, chuckle. But then, every once in a while the person who makes this very original joke will follow up with a serious comment. It goes like this. “What do you do?”
I want to encourage you – fathers, leaders, ministers, elders, pastors, - hang in there – pay the price. Eventually it comes around – really. It is worth it! People are worth it. Children are worth it.
My wife, my kids and my grandchildren are the joy of my life. My church is the reason for getting up every day. My God has given me my purpose and my reason for being. It is worth it.
Third: Set a Godly Example1 Corinthians 4:14-16 14 I am not trying to make you feel ashamed. I am writing this to give you a warning as my own dear children. 15 For though you may have ten thousand teachers in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Through the Good News I became your father in Christ Jesus, 16 so I beg you, please follow my example.
We learn best by imitating influential people 15 For though you may have ten thousand teachers in Christ, you do not have many fathers.It’s not what we learn from books – it’s what we learn by watching someone that is important to us. Someone is watching you – right now.
Father’s set a Godly example Through the Good News I became your father in Christ Jesus, 16 so I beg you, please follow my example.
Four critical words which are both intentional and exacting. I set it out here before you as the task of your life. It is your purpose and direction – to set a Godly example for those who follow you.
Let’s take it home
You are an influential Person in someone’s life. If you haven’t done so good up to now – there is time to change – do it now
Listen, it’s just us guys right now. So let’s be honest. We are really good at taking care of ourselves aren’t we? Why do you think Paul commanded men in Eph 5 to “love your wives”? He commanded us to love our wives like we love ourselves and like we love our own bodies because we do that very well. Most of us take a while to grow up and learn to love others.
I’ve come to the conclusion that it takes most guys till they are about 30 –35 years of age. Some never make it at all.
It’s time to grow up and start being that Godly man.
Paul and Timothy
17 That is why I am sending to you Timothy, my son in the Lord. I love Timothy, and he is faithful. He will help you remember my way of life in Christ Jesus, just as I teach it in all the churches everywhere.
My son in the Lord
The bond of love is greater than the bond of blood!
Ok, Huddle up: A Prayer time for guys
