This is our third talk in a series on the second coming of Christ as we head up to Christmas….
The first week (which we missed cos we were at camp)… we would have heard,… that Jesus is coming and we can be sure we go to heaven.
The second week (last week) we saw that Jesus is coming and the Bible was written to prepare us for that day, (so we ought to be reading it!)
Today I wanted to look at another text.
A very dangerous text-1 Corinthians 4:1-5
(pause)
Let’s have a look at it…
Paul says of himself…(v1)..
A “servant” of Christ- the original word refers to an assistant, …
A “steward” of the mysteries of God…..a steward is a manager. They look after the house while the master is away.
-> the key thing about stewards is that they be found trustworthy.
Faithful.
Paul was a church planter- and faithfulness meant preaching the gospel throughout the gentile region of Turkey, Greece and Rome, up and around the Mediterranean Sea.
Numerically and extensively, he was the most successful MISSIONARY the world has ever seen.
That is not doubted at all.
But success is not about that- numbers, , or size of budget, or at a personal level – being the apostle- that was ALL by grace…
How did WE go yesterday?-
- There were about 400 people there. – It was professional. – We may make the Southern Courier… look out over the next couple of weeks!. – We had a man come to church this morning because of the carols.
- did we get around and talk to people…? Say hello to the person on the picnic rug next to you??
- I’m feeling pooped…and I know many of you are too… we worked hard… I think that’s getting closer to faithfulness. There are the images of the soldier, the hardworking farmer, the builder, the athlete….
FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST!!!!..
> Christ the Lord was preached that’s the key!!!… – I prayed… I know many others prayed… that Christ would be honoured.
(pause)
… Paul says… v 3 (read).
Paul distances himself from anyone’s assessment of himself or his ministry.
His conscience is clear. It is God’s matter and God will judge him- read v 4.
So… don’t jump to judgment. V5 (read)
(pause)
Why is this dangerous?
Because it sounds like a justification to cut ourselves off from each other.
To say “I don’t care what you think. I’ll live my way, and I’ll do it my way!… and frankly I don’t care what you think!”
Imagine saying that to your parents in year 12, as they try to get you to study- v3 (read).
Imagine in a church, someone being gently rebuked for saying “bloody”. And THEY say… verse 3 (read).
It sounds like individualism doesn’t it?
-> it plays right into the hands of Postmodernism.
Postmodernism is a world view, that says… there is no absolute right and wrong… and so there aren’t any eternal values … and so you can’t criticize others… and truth is in the eye of the beholder.
“what’s true for you is true for you, and what’s true for me is true for me…
Here, it’s almost a defiance,… “no human court”… is it really a small thing???
Paul has a different starting point to post-modernism,… but doesn’t it lead to the same conclusion.???
“Leave me alone!!”
(pause)
The context of this statement is a vexed and stressed relationship with the Corinthian church.
Corinth was a prosperous trade centre.
It had the great athletic stadiums,… and big games there twice a year.
It was cosmopolitan- many immigrants. A city of opportunity.
It was known for its religious diversity.
Not unlike Sydney.
And in that city is a church which Paul founded.
… he is their spiritual father in Christ,
> BUT there are other guardians too – Paul had sowed the seed,.. but others had watered it,… 2 people are particularly mentioned Cephas and Apollos, (Apollos was an eloquent speaker, and a good man…)
As far as we know there was no theological disagreement between Paul and Apollos, but that didn’t stop some in the church waving the banner of Paul and others waving the banner of Apollos.
It was trivial unimportant differences that broke one group off from another.
And so, … there is a clear defensive tone to this letter- the Corinthians think THAT PAUL IS NOT UP TO IT.
He’s weak and lacks the eloquence and sophistication of others.
Paul refuses to engage in the public honour and reputation game.
In the first couple of chapters he writes about how the word of the cross is foolishness to those who seek for worldly wisdom and rhetoric.
The message of the lordship of a crucified man means that the message AND MESSENGER are marked by that shameful cross “SO THAT your faith may not rest on humans but on God”.
And so verse 3- read.
Paul refuses to be judged anyone… except God.
(pause)
Yet, notice, this is not the isolated individualism of the post modern world.
Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians, the whole letter and his next letter, is one of deep engagement.
It’s a difficult relationship… but some of the most personal and heartfelt writings in Scripture, indeed in the remains from the ancient world, are in these letters.
Down in verse 14 (read to v 16).In his second letter- PPT- 2 Cor 6:11-13. -> Paul rebukes me… his LOVE for people is faithful isn’t it….
And you see his engagement with people who aren’t Christian coming through too…. Paul does seek to please people.
1 Corinthians 10:33 (NRSV) 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.Paul would adjust and change.
He was flexible – he worked part-time when he had to…, he wouldn’t eat meat if it would offend his dinner guests;
- he went hungry and thirsty; he laboured and copped slander …FOR THE SAKE OF the Corinthians..
…. He did make it his aim (it was a secondary aim, but still an aim), to please people.
- he would agree with Peter who said- “Conduct yourself honourable among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge”.
-> HE WAS DEEPLY engaged with people.
(pause)
(This is not the honour culture of classical society)
It’s helpful though to make a contrast with the honour culture of classical society, because Paul himself does.
First century Mediterranean people from early childhood, sought honour and the opposite- to avoid disgrace.
They were sensitive to public opinion.
It was said of that society, that “life without honour had no meaning”.
- similar to today –prestigious cars, prestigious careers, prestigious hotels, prestigious suburbs….
In the ancient world, you were to live in such a way (in what you wore, in who you mixed with, and in how you conducted yourself with outsiders) that would gain honour,… and that was where your worth existed.
(pause)
Paul dissociates himself from this way of thinking.
His ministry is not an outward display.
And it’s definitely not where his worth lies.
Again, there is a place for appropriate honour and reputation….
Romans 13.7- “Pay to all what is due to them- respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due…”
But this is a small part a much bigger motivation.
(pause)
So …
What is it that makes Paul tick?
As Paul anticipates the coming of the Lord Jesus… and as he reflects on whether he’s done a good job,
What is his world-view?…. or END OF WORLD VIEW???
Well, it’s not isolated individualism.
And it’s not honour for honour’s sake.
(pause)
He is a person who’s reality is in God.
A reality which is announced in the gospel-
Romans 2:16
2 Corinthians 5:9-11.
So back to our dangerous passage-
- It is the Lord who judges me.
- he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness.
The judgement will be of the heart… the will, and motivations and attitudes- which other people can’t see, which we sometimes can’t even see very well ourselves- but God sees.
- then each will receive his commendation from God.
“Well done, good and faithful servant”.
We have a wonderful God don’t we… a gracious God.
So what are the….
Consequences:
i. Free from others.
- liberating really.
In the end the only person you have to answer to IS God.
…people who constantly worry about what others think (“people pleasers”)… is a recipe for confusion and anxiety.
I find this liberating.
(pause)
It also means…
ii. Others not isolated
God judges the heart.
And what God looks for is love… which is what it means to be faithful.
To be engaging with people.
(pause)
And finally,…
iii. open to God who tests the heart.
We mustn’t close our hearts to God’s work.
This isn’t individualism.
1 Thess 2:4 (read).
“Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, we speak not to please man, but to please God who tests the heart”…
Let’s pray.