Thursday, August 8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2013

Ezra 7:1–8:20

1 Corinthians 4:1–21

Psalm 30:1–12

Proverbs 20:28–30

 

 

“Already you have all you want!  Already you have become rich!  You have become kings – and that without us!  How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!   For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.  We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honored, we are dishonored!  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our own hands.  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.” (1 Corinthians 4:8–13)

 

In this highly autobiographical passage, we witness a measure of Paul’s righteous indignation at the arrogance of those Corinthians who had begun to infiltrate the church, stirring dissension and proudly boasting of their liberty as a distortion of grace.  The ironic and sarcastic tone in this chapter seeks to contrast the spiritual maturity and faithful stewardship of the apostles – “servants of Christ and… those entrusted with the secret things of God” – with the haughty immaturity of those disrupting the Corinthian church.  These unhelpful folks had begun to tear down the infrastructure that the Gospel – plus Paul’s blood, sweat, and tears – had produced.

 

Paul employs fairly graphic and symbolic language to hammer home his points.  His diligence in the service of the Gospel not only proved his love for the Corinthians, but also validated the Gospel.  If you recall, Pastor Scott has noted that a key witness for the validity of the Gospel lies in the willingness of the early church fathers to face persecution and death for their faith.

 

His first image shows the “apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.”  This language recalls the practices of conquering Roman generals, who would take their captives in a parade, only to lead them to face the gladiators and their certain death in the grotesque theater.  Here, the “general” might refer to spiritual or worldly powers that looked to thwart or even reverse the work of the Gospel, where the “audience” may be representative of human or demonic bystanders. 

 

We also read about Paul’s deprivation for the Gospel:  “hungry and thirsty”; “in rags”; “brutally treated”; “homeless”; laboring manually; “cursed” but blessing; “persecuted” but enduring; “slandered” but kind in response; and “scum of the earth.”  These descriptors counter the Corinthians’ desire for self-aggrandizement and comfort in their backsliding.

 

In short, this cosmic battle for human hearts would continue to rage, and Paul willingly accepted the likelihood of temporal defeat for eternal victory (for himself and others).

 

 

“Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;

                through love, his throne is made secure.” (Proverbs 20:28)

 

This verse calls to mind the foolishness of Rehoboam, Solomon’s son.  According to 1 Kings 12, Rehoboam purposefully turned down the wise counsel of the elders:  “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”  Instead, the young king listened to his friends, who urged him to scold the people with the threat of an even heavier yoke.  Apparently, Solomon’s proverb and the wisdom therein did not penetrate his son’s hardened heart.

 

The verse also begs the question:  Does this same principle apply to non-kings?  We see plenty of worldly examples of coaxing, wheedling, bullying, manipulating, pressuring, and otherwise forcing the “weak” to serve the wishes of the “strong.”  Instead, the Bible speaks of the reverse:  motivating through a selfless, giving love (Philippians 2:1–11; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a).

 

How may you practice Paul’s giving of himself to serve the Gospel and others?  How may you apply love in this service today?

 

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