1 Corinthians 4 -- What I Am NOT

Paul saw something happening with the Corinthians that didn’t make him feel particularly proud.  It was almost an air of elitism.  “Who says you are better than others?  What do you have that was not given to you?”

They seem to have forgotten (or perhaps they may have never learned) that they were and most likely still were sinners saved by grace.  They’d decided to start reigning while on earth rather than waiting for Christ to return first.  Paul wanted them to look at the apostles as an example.  They would then see none of that arrogance in the apostles.  Only humility and a strong desire to be a servant of Christ.

Just as these people might witness a certain level of snobbery in the lives of earthly monarchs they might chance to encounter, Paul was seeing it happen in the lives of Christians, and this was far from what Christ preached and lived.  He made Himself the servant of all – dying for us.  Through their actions, however, people weren’t getting pointed to Christ.  The focus was on themselves.  They weren’t allowing God to get the glory.

Father, in this world I am nothing without You and without the sacrifice Your Son made for me on that cross.  None of my natural abilities, which are nothing other than gifts from You, would even be worthy of mention when compared with what Jesus did for me.  Please help me to remember that I am nothing without You.  Everything I have, You gave me.  I am Yours.  Guide me to what You want me to be doing.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford