1 Corinthians 4:7 - Be Different

1 Corinthians 4:7
 
NKJV
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
 
NLT
For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
 
Paul was addressing the Corinthians pride by asking three questions.  The same three questions can apply to us too.
 
What makes us different from others?  That would seem to be a simple question, wouldn’t it?  Believers are different because the blood of Christ was shed for us…right?  But wait, wasn’t the blood of Christ shed for all?  If you don’t know the answer to that, it is yes. 1 John 2:2 tells us “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  So back to the original question, what makes us different?  Sadly, as Christians, a lot of times we don’t look any different the rest of the world.  Maybe it’s time for a change in your life.  It’s time to show the world the same love that we as believers were shown that day on Golgotha.
 
What do we have that God hasn’t given us?  If we believe that God is the great provider, then surely we believe that He has given us all we have.  And if all we have was given to us, what do we really own.  I’m not just talking about things here, cause we know He already owns all of that (Psalm 50:10 for every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.)  But lets consider our talents and personality traits, didn’t God give us those too?  How often am I wasting my talents and gifts, because I believe they are mine.  They’re part of who I am, but they’re not mine.  Maybe it’s time to examine ourselves and use what God has given us for the purpose of the gift?
 
Final question, if we are meant to be different from the world and all we have has been gifted to us from God; then what right do we have to brag about it? 
 
Let’s spend our time using what we have been given and learn to apply it like Jesus did.  Speak in love to others; speak in truth to others and love them despite how they present themselves to us.  We can’t change people, we can only tell them about Jesus and love on them where they are.
 
Be different,
cej

 

1 Corinthians 4:6 - Learnin' More

 

Photo Credit:  Judy Deist

 

1 Corinthians 4:6

NKJV

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

 

NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.

 

Paul is telling the Corinthians that they should not put one leader over another, that their focus should be on God and the written Scriptures.  The Corinthians were caught up in the celebrity of their leaders and not what the word of God said.  Aren’t we as people, guilty of that at times?  We judge our pastors on humor, his appearance and how marketable he is (to name a few).  We walk away from sermons and leave churches because we “weren’t getting fed” by that pastor (something I’ve actually said).

 

Sola Scriptura, or Scriptures alone are what we should base our opinions of everything being spoken from the platform.  I wonder how often I have heard something that I disagreed with, from the pulpit, and I never verified its truth in the Scriptures?  I remember listening to a guest pastor once and he said a bunch of stuff that I disagreed with.  There were so many folks that felt the way I did, that what he said was wrong.  So, what did we do?  We complained to our pastor about this guy.  How jacked up is that?!?!

 

If we are waiting to be “fed” by the pastor, then we are going to starve to death!  We have access in multiple forms to God’s Word.  We should spend time in them daily, we need to get beyond milk and start eating meat.  Test what your pastor says by holding it to the light of God’s Word.  Does it stand up?  If it does, then maybe…just maybe, you should encourage your pastor.  If it doesn’t stand up, then maybe a conversation with your pastor for clarification of what he said.  The point here is, don’t just talk the talk.  Study God’s word.  Sola Scriptura.

 

Wouldn’t it be really cool if we all were biblical scholars?

 

Learnin’ more,

cej

1 Corinthians 4:5 - Win for Chrst

 

1 Corinthians 4:5

 

NKJV

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

 

NLT

So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

 

This verse sounds like a warning, doesn’t it?  I believe we are all capable of judging others just because they don’t think like we do.  I know I’m guilty of that.  I think when we consider judging others, we should look at what the Word says about that first in Romans 3:23 (all of have sinned and fall short of the glory of God).  We were all in the same boat at one time or another.

 

The verse above says God will bring our darkest secrets to light.  What in the world?  Didn’t He already forgive me for those?  The answer is yes, but here’s my thought on this.  Typically, as believers, when we’re judging others, we are choosing to ignore our own issues, things like sin we’re hiding from everyone that we keep returning to.  Things like our anger when that hot button issue comes up and we throw our judgement out like a knife.

 

Should we ignore an untruth, when it comes to God’s word?  Certainly not!  But how hard is it to speak the truth in love?  Jesus spoke truth and said go and sin no more.  He didn’t waste His time is useless arguments.  So, let’s not waste our time speaking anything but truth.  Remember God made every person we come in contact with, regardless of if we like them or not.  Our judgement is coming, just the same as everyone else.  Arguments don’t win anyone to Christ and He died for everyone….not just the people we like.

 

Win for Christ,

cej