1 Corinthians 4

With a brief look at this chapter, I would divide it into (4) parts:

1. Stewards
2. You can't boast if it was a gift.
3. Foolishness of your thinking
4. Imitate me

Stewards
The commentary suggests that this indicates that the Corinthians had criticized Paul and he was answering their criticisms by showing his authority and that their judgement did not really even matter. In the process he brings up the concept of a steward. Paul says that he is a "steward of the mysteries of God." This simply means he has possesion granted by God of the things once hidden that are now revealed. This would indicate some type of authority to be trusted with the wealth of that knowledge. It is kind of like Joseph who was made a steward of Pharoh's house and was found faithful. Even though Pharoh judged him wrongly, ultimately it did not matter, because only the Lord knows the hearts and brings to light the hidden things. Joseph's and Paul's praise will come from God, not men.

It is similar for us, we have been trusted with much more knowledge as stewards than were first century Christians and Israelites who trusted in the promises of God. We have been given things that we often take for granted. We must remember that we are stewards of those things that God has given us and we will have to account for them one day, not to men, but to God. This is a sobering thought, but should motivate and spur us on to serve our God with more zeal.

Boasting
"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?" (vs. 7) That statement kind of encompasses this whole idea of our position as recipients of the everything good. The Corinthians had become "puffed up on behalf of one against the other" and Paul is saying why do you pride yourselves on things that you did not even come up with. You are not the originator of your theology, God is. God has "enriched you in all utterance and all knowledge" He is due the honor and glory and we are on level ground. I think we must take this passage to be a call to us not to think too highly of ourselves lest we forget that Christ is the owner and sustainer of our faith and not only our faith, but all that we have. He has rooted us in Himself for His own glory. If we would think this way, we may not be so inclined to division between ourselves as we are now. Father, help us to see that you are the giver of good gifts and your sovreignty is over all creation. We are merely temporary stewards of your possesions. Help us to realize this in our dealings and relationships
with others and to honor you first and come to that common ground with fellow believers.

Foolishness of your thinking
This point kind of dovetails the previous point about boasting be excluded. Paul gets pretty sarcastic with his speech here to show the Corinthians how absurd they are being. He basically shows the view of the apostles in this world and their treatment, and he contrasts that with the manner in which these Corinthians think they should be treated. And he uses this biting irony to show them the foolishness of thinking the student is above the teacher. They boast as if they did not receive the truth from Paul even! But Paul is not writing in a manner in order to shame them, but he wants to admonish them in love. In this case though he does resort to using pretty serious language to get his point across. This should be an example to me that when I see a serious sin in someone's life that I am close to, I would address it in a loving but serious manner. Paul is not concerned with being politically correct or sparing someone's feelings as much as he is with sparing their souls from hellfire. We need to face sin head on and bring to light the need for repentance. Father, even though I am not in the position that Paul was or I don't have the authority that Paul does, I pray that when a situation arises that I need to be bold and condemn sin in someone's life that I would not shy away from it. I pray that I would lovingly show them their faults and call them to repentance and you would work in their hearts to convict them of their straying and cleanse them from it. Thank you father for examples such as Paul and letters to churches to show us what we need to become more holy and to glorify you more. Help me to soak in this letter to the Church and Corinth and become thoroughly familiar with it in order to better serve you. Thank you Father.

Imitate Me
Paul has just really shown the Corinthians their error, but wants them to know that it was done out of love for them. It is as his "beloved children" that he warns them. His reason, he is their father in the sense that it was thru him that they were given the gift of the truth. He tells them, not to boast, but so they will respect and not hurl criticisms at their father in the faith. Paul is telling the Corinthians that although they may have 20 different allegiences among them about who identifies with which teacher of the faith the most, Paul has a unique relationship among them. It is really thru him that they were saved. This is testimony to me to be careful not to criticize the men and women and church in which I grew up in, because although they had some doctrinal errors, it was thru them that I came into the knowledge of the truth. Of course, God saved me 100%, but he used those means to accomplish His purposes.

Paul's second aspect of telling the Corinthians this is for them to now desire to imitate him. He will send Timothy, his student to remind them of "his ways in Christ". That is a big measuring stick, to live the same as Paul and to strive to think in the same manner!

The final thing that this passage indicates to me is the issue of accountability. Paul states that he will come shortly. He says he can either come with a rod for discipline or with a spirit of gentleness. If Paul were to come into my life right now, which would he bring. I should always remember the need to be accountable to someone who can bring the rod of discipline or a spirit of gentleness. I should also take heed not to act one way around a church member or the church and another when in the world. I should be striving to imitate Paul, Christ...in every aspect of my life. That is what Christ as Lord looks like.