Daily Scripture Reading 1Corinthians 4:1-21

We live in a superficial society. Thus, many people form opinions of others based on appearances or emotions. If a person claims to be loving and does so in a tone of voice that drips with emotion, he is credited with having love, even when his actions are not loving.

This is why we have the phrase “actions speak louder than words”. The meaning is that people often make claims about themselves that are not true, and the proof they are not true is the fact that their actions don’t align with what they say. When you are choosing between believing what people say and what they do, it is wiser to believe what they do.

We will learn in today’s passage that God goes even deeper. He does not merely consider what people say and do, he also looks at the motives found deep in the heart.

At the end of chapter three, Paul wrote that the wisdom of the world is foolishness before God. True wisdom is found in the Bible, but the world thinks the Bible is foolishness.

1Cor. 4:1 ¶ Let a man consider us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Note the words “servants” and “stewards”. Paul was an apostle, yet he looked upon himself as a servant of God.

Humans have a natural desire to be the boss of their own lives and have control over other people. Serving God is not something we want to do. However, being a servant of Jesus is the essence of the Christian life.

1Cor. 4:2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful.

1Cor. 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court. In fact, I do not even examine myself.

1Cor. 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted. But the one who examines me is the Lord.

As we go through life, many people will form opinions about us and make pronouncements about our words and actions. It is human nature to seek approval from our fellow man. Ultimately, the only opinion that should matter to us is the Lord’s opinion.

1Cor. 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one’s praise will come to him from God.

Notice the phrase “motives of the heart”.

We live in a superficial society. Many people form opinions of others based on appearances or emotions. If someone claims to love God, they are credited with love even when their actions do not back up their claims.

God does not merely look at what we do and what we say. He examines the motives found deep in our hearts that motivate what we say and do.

We should not deceive ourselves. When we make claims about ourselves that are not true, we can successfully fool our fellow man; however, we can never fool God. God knows, and will reveal, the motives found in our hearts.

1Cor. 4:6 ¶ Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

The words “these things” refers to the statements Paul made in verses 1-5. The Christians in Corinth were puffed up, bragging about belonging to Paul, Cephas, or Apollos. Paul wanted them to understand they were all servants of Jesus.

1Cor. 4:7 For who regards 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?

These were rhetorical questions. The Corinthians were not superior and all the Christian knowledge they had came from others.

1Cor. 4:8 ¶ You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have ruled without us—and how I wish that you had ruled indeed so that we also might rule with you.

1Cor. 4:9 For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

1Cor. 4:10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor!

1Cor. 4:11 To this present hour we hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless;

1Cor. 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

1Cor. 4:13 when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have become as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, even until now.

The apostles were the leaders of the church. They routinely suffered hunger, thirst, homelessness, persecution, and insults. That is quite a contrast to many leaders or so-called leaders in Christianity today. Many of the prominent Christian leaders, such as mega-church pastors, are wealthy and live in mansions.

1Cor. 4:14 ¶ I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

1Cor. 4:15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

1Cor. 4:16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

Look at the command to “be imitators of me”.

In the first three chapters, Paul criticized the Corinthians because they were divided, having broken into camps based on which leader had led them to Christ or baptized them. Paul wrote that he considered himself a servant of Jesus, was content to suffer hardship and persecution, and commanded the Corinthians to imitate his attitude.

1Cor. 4:17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

1Cor. 4:18 Now some have become puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

Look at the words “puffed up”. Paul used this term six times in 1Corinthians. Obviously, the Corinthians had become proud, so part of the purpose of Paul’s letter was to reduce their pride.

1Cor. 4:19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall know, not the words of those who are puffed up but their power.

1Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

1Cor. 4:21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

We live in a superficial society. Many people form opinions of others based on appearances or emotions. If someone claims to love God, they are credited with love even when their actions do not back up their claims.

God does not merely look at what we do and what we say. He examines the motives found deep in our hearts that motivate what we say and do.

We should not deceive ourselves. When we make claims about ourselves that are not true, we can successfully fool our fellow man; however, we can never fool God. God knows, and will reveal, the motives found in our hearts.

What are some ways the motives of your heart do not align with Biblical values and priorities?

What are some examples of times you have deceived people into thinking one thing of you while the truth was something different?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”