1 Corinthians 4:1-21
Poverty of the apostles
On the outside, people were rich, honoured and strong; but the church in Corinth was in a real mess. Paul points out that they were arrogant, proud and jealous. They tolerated sexual immorality, and they went to court against each other.
The apostle Paul starts to tackle some of these issues. He sees in their lives the arrogance of the rich. They are proud of their material wealth. Paul explains in a nutshell why no one has any cause for pride: ‘Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle’ (vv.7b–8, MSG).
They are rich like kings: ‘Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign – and that without us!’ (v.8a). There is a hint of sarcasm here. They are not really rulers at all, ‘How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we might come to rule with you!’ (v.8b).
He contrasts their material wealth with the poverty of himself and of the other apostles. ‘You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we’re mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don’t have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living’ (vv.11–12, MSG).
Paul was one of the most influential Christians ever. His ministry was possibly the most ‘successful’ of all time. However, it did not lead to material prosperity. Quite the opposite. He was materially poor. He did not have enough food. He did not have nice clothes. He was homeless.
His poverty did not come about as a result of laziness: ‘We work hard with our own hands’ (v.12a). But, like many poor people today, he was subject to abuse. He did not respond in kind: ‘When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world’ (vv.12b–13).
Paul writes with great love – not to shame them but to warn them. He sees them as a father sees his own children (vv.14–15): ‘I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up.
Paul’s heart was like that of a good father. A father’s heart is gentle, kind, nurturing, training, persevering and never gives up on people. This should be the attitude of a pastor. All human parents are less than perfect. But you are loved and nurtured by your perfect heavenly father and can seek to be a parent to others based on his heavenly model.
Lord, thank you that I have received far more through Jesus than anything this world can offer. May I be willing to be a fool ‘for Christ’ (v.10). Help me to imitate Paul’s example.