The Scum of the Earth (1 Corinthians 4)
We have been studying divisive behavior in the evenings from 1 Corinthians 1-4, and today our lesson will close this series. We will come back to 1 Corinthians again sometime, but after this, I look forward to opening the book of Isaiah with you and seeing all that God has in store for us in that great book.
So far, we have understood that God wants his church to be united in everything. He wants us to agree and find ways to work together for God's glory. That's what we ought to be striving for. We don't want any divisions among us.
When we think about divisive behavior, we might think of yelling and arguing. We might think of jealousy and malice or backstabbing or betrayal. But those are symptoms. The root of the problem is more profound. It's in our hearts' desire. We WANT to be above other people, so we create sides and jump on one, hoping our side wins. Jesus wants us to join his side. He doesn't want us to divide his side up into smaller and smaller divisions. We WANT to appear wise and powerful. But God wants to destroy the wisdom of this world and give his wisdom to the humble. He wants us to see the power of the cross to make the wise in this world look foolish. We WANT to enjoy junk food and indulge in this world, but God expects us to see spiritual maturity. These wants bring us pain and suffering. They make life hard for all of us.
We Are Servants
In Chapter 4, Paul tries to make his point clear. This is an excellent chapter of the Bible. It's loaded with beautiful teachings for us. The first thing he points to is servanthood.
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
The Corinthians have regarded Paul, Apollos, and Peter as more than just men. They have lifted them to "Messiah" status. It seemed easier for them to trust in someone they see than in Christ, whom they do not see. But Paul says, "We are just servants." Jesus is the master. Paul doesn't see himself as more than he is and wishes others wouldn't see him as anything more. This reminds me of what Jesus said in Luke 17.
Luke 17:7–10 (ESV) — 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”
The disciples tend to argue over who is the greatest, but Jesus tries to help them recognize that we are all nothing. There is no place for pride among servants. We are just doing what we are commanded to do, and we aren't to expect praise for doing what is expected. Whatever we give in sacrificial service for God doesn't pay him back or give us room to boast. It's all in a day's work.
You Are Not The Master (3-5)
1 Corinthians 4:3–5 (ESV) — 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Being a servant of Jesus means that we owe more than we could ever pay, but it also means that we don't base our master's approval on the approval of others. Sure, we are commanded to serve and love one another, but if someone around me is not satisfied with my work, that doesn't mean Jesus is not satisfied. Jesus asks me to do things sometimes that are guaranteed to give me opposition. We are not guilty of sin because someone else says we are.
Paul says, "It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court." These Corinthians have shown themselves to be very spiritually immature. Their judgment is not based on a proper understanding of the more profound things of God. It's based on their feelings and emotions that are easily misguided. This is an important concept. We could very quickly let the opinions of others get under our skin. Instead, we need to remain unaffected. We have one whose judgment matters. He will "bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart."
But also, Paul says, "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted." He doesn't look at himself and think, "What are you talking about? I'm perfect. Jesus has no grounds to judge me." He knows his only hope is the grace of the one who judges him. That's what he cares about and relies on. We aren't innocent just because we think we are.
As we read this text, we must recognize that we aren't the master of one another. We do not know the heart of the people around us. We can make judgments, but we must be careful not to accuse the innocent wrongly. He or she's not our servant. We can speak the truth to them, but the final judgment is not up to us.
Are You Hearing This? (6-13)
At this point, Paul recaps everything he has been saying. He wants to back up and ensure this is all sinking in, so he uses rhetorical questions and sarcasm to clarify his point.
Rhetorical Questions
1 Corinthians 4:6–7 (NASB 2020) — 6 Now these things, brothers and sisters, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos on your account, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. 7 For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Paul says he has been using himself and Apollos as examples for them to see what's going on there. Paul and Apollos are on the same team. One plants, the other waters, and God gives the increase. Remember that? Paul reveals there has been fussing and fighting among them, and they need to see things the way Paul sees things. They are on the same team, working together to accomplish God's glory, not their own. They are merely servants and stewards of God's mysteries. There is no room for arrogance in the ministry of the word of God.
Then, he uses rhetorical questions. He says in the NASB, "Who considers you as superior." I like that translation better. Preachers and teachers must be careful not to consider themselves superior. He continues with another rhetorical question: "What do you have that you did not receive?" These revealed truths are from God. Your ability to speak is from God. No matter what spiritual gift or ability God has given us, all of us must see our gift as a gift. It's not something we created in ourselves. God gave it to us. If we received it, we shouldn't be boasting about it like we made the gift happen. We didn't.
Sarcasm
1 Corinthians 4:8 (ESV) — 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
Next, he says that they are already so great! They have accomplished everything themselves. They are rich. They are kings. They reign over all the brothers. Congratulations! He is making a sarcastic comment. They aren't rich or remarkable in any way. They are foolish. Then, he compares them to himself and the other apostles, who exceed them in greatness because of all that was revealed to them through the Spirit.
We Are Scum
1 Corinthians 4:9–13 (ESV) — 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
Paul says that he considers himself and the other apostles the last. God has made them the opposite of the greatest among men. Why did God do that? Because the last will be first, and the first will be last. That's what Jesus taught. He says, "We have become a spectacle." The world looks at us and marvels because who would act this way to be treated so poorly? Who would appear so foolish and yet be wise? Who would appear weak but exude strength? Who would let themselves go hungry and without while working tirelessly to serve God? Who would endure suffering and evil while choosing to bless and implore those who do evil against them?
I love the last words. He says, "We are being treated like we are the scum of the earth. Like garbage that everyone throws out." Paul doesn't aspire to greatness among men. He aspires to godliness and the salvation of the lost. That's his focus in life.
Paul's Point
Paul is writing these things to get them to understand the difference between a false teacher and a faithful teacher. The false teacher wants praise and adoration, while the true teacher wants souls to be saved.
1 Corinthians 4:14–21 (ESV) — 14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
He sees them as his spiritual children because he was the first to go there and share the gospel with them. He wants them to imitate him by walking humbly and pursuing the truth in love. He wants them to see that the goal is not arrogance and power over others. The goal is salvation for all through our humble service in unity with the body of Christ.
Application
It's so crucial for us to see our tendencies to pursue greatness in the eyes of men. But when we start honoring men more than we honor God, we have fallen into one of Satan's many traps.
Servants
We must see ourselves as merely servants of Christ. It's easy for us to look at everything we have done and think much of ourselves, but Paul urges us to walk humbly. He exemplifies this behavior.
Philippians 3:12–15 (ESV) — 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
If we want to be mature in Christ, it starts with thinking less of self and more of Jesus. Even Paul looks at his accomplishments and thinks, I don't deserve the praise of my master. I'm not finished yet.
Not Masters
Another thing we have to see is that we aren't one another's masters. It doesn't matter if you are older than someone else's servant. That doesn't make you their master. It doesn't matter if you know more, look better, or are stronger. You can't be their master until you pay their debt and take responsibility for them.
Too often, we treat our brothers like they are our slaves. We take and take from them without giving or serving them. But we are forgetting our master. He sees and knows what we are doing. He knows if we refuse to serve as he has called us to serve one another. He knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and he will judge us based on how we live, not what we know.
So, if we live for ourselves and judge others, we must get a towel and start washing our feet. See yourself as nothing.
Scum
Does Paul's idea about the apostles being the least of all make you uncomfortable? We don't like this idea. We resist it. None of us want to be last or least. We want to be first. We certainly don't want to be garbage in the eyes of others. But that's what we must be to be great in the kingdom. To imitate Paul, we must be fools, weak, ignored, disrespected, poor, and persecuted while working hard to serve others. We have to accept the mistreatment from outsiders and from our brethren with a smile on our faces. We endure suffering and evil while blessing those around us because that's the way of our master. We become garbage so that we are wholly poured out to serve our master.
Conclusion
Is that you? Do you resemble Paul or the Corinthians? Paul's way of life is the way to avoid divisions. When we think less of ourselves, getting along with others and working for God's glory becomes easy.