1 Corinthians 4:8 - Be Humble

 

1 Corinthians 4:8

NKJV

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

 

NLT

You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.

 

Bibleref.net:  Some Bible teachers believe the Corinthians began to misunderstand Christian teachings, thinking they should be experiencing the pleasure and authority of heaven on this side of eternity.  Others believe Paul means they are simply acting as if they don’t need and are not accountable to Christ.  Either way, their “puffed up” attitudes show they have a flawed view of their own place in the kingdom of God.

 

I am always trying to bring these to some kind of application in my life.  Some way that I can relate my personal life to what is being said in the verse.  I’m convicted today.  There have been times in my life, recently too, where I felt I deserved something.  I felt my role should have been greater than it was, thankfully it wasn’t.  Because praying men placed me in that role to serve.  It was a dose of humble pie for sure!  Thank God!  Everything I have is from the Lord.  My time…my talents… and my treasures…all of it!  It’s all a gift from God, and there is only one reason I deserve any of it.  The blood of Christ made me worthy. 

 

What about you today?  As my dad would say, “are you getting too big for your britches?”  What do you have going on that you’re maybe taking too much credit for?  When we get to the point where we feel like we deserve something….isn’t that worshiping self?  Self-evaluation is a good thing and we can all examine ourselves today. 

 

Be humble,

cej