I Corinthians 4:1-5

 I Corinthians 4:1-5

How wicked is division in the church? Of the 16 chapters of this book, four are dedicated to addressing the issue of division, and those are the first four chapters. At the root of this, and every division, is arrogance. You will never find a fractured church without finding an emotionally damaged or immature, arrogant person or two. At Corinth these people were setting themselves up against and over the apostolic authority and leadership in the person of Paul. As Paul asserts his role, he does so not in terms of position but in terms of service. The term he uses, “service,” in verse one literally means under-rower ; it describes a slave on the lowest level of an oar-powered ship. This was one of the worst slave positions in all of the ancient world. It was a death sentence but not a fast death. No slave could ever be lower than the under rower. The other term Paul used was steward. Stewards generally, but not always, were slaves as well. This was the highest position a slave could have. The steward ran the estate, and next to the owner was the ultimate authority. Think of Joseph running Potiphar's house in Egypt. While such a slave enjoyed a relatively good life, they were also responsible for everything. If anything, anywhere, went wrong, it was a steward who would be held accountable. From this, Paul points out who he is in terms of service to God. And He is not concerned about the judgments people may level against Him. As a steward, Paul doesn’t care what public opinion is. As a slave/steward, he doesn’t bother himself with the opinion of anyone other than his master. He doesn’t even care if he feels good about himself. Self-esteem is a fool’s game. The steward, the disciple, Paul, and the Corinthians are to only be concerned about God’s opinion and judgment.

Paul makes a point in verse five about the timeliness of judgments. We are prone to assume that our opinion of the current situation is the fact and the ultimate reality of that situation. The way things appear at any moment may or may not be the reality that is ultimately true. Paul holds up the coming judgment of the Lord as a standard and objective for which we need to wait. On that day we will find many humble servants in very non-prestigious works receiving great praise from God. And we will find more famous and lauded ministers who receive not praise but only condemnation.

“Lord, help me to be both in action and attitude to be a servant. AMEN