Issue 15 - Day 7

1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4:10-13
10)  We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11)  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12)  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13)  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

How often do you feel insignificant and incapable of anything useful? In this day and age such thoughts are frowned upon. The school system is geared to presenting everyone a winner. If you are not good enough to compete against others then compete against yourself. The system rewards people for doing their best and bolsters their self esteem. Sadly this is at the expense of all appreciation for others, as “self” becomes the focus.

The bible teaches to respect others first, and to put them as higher than ourselves. Humility and a desire to serve are promoted. Here we see Paul, one of the greatest missionaries of all time declaring other believers to be better than himself. He counts himself weak and foolish. We would do well to think ourselves this same way in order to think better of others.

Worse still is the result of this service. He has no home, he is hated and cursed, being made to work as the lowest slave. Why is this said? because it is too easy to puff yourself up as something special. The reality is that by the grace of God, and that only, are we saved. Our own works are worthless in his sight, and our only worthwhile goal is to serve him, and others as if we were serving him, for it is our attitude to others that reveals our heart toward God.