Feb. 3, 2004

[Kidan]

Quote[/b] ]We have been made as the filth of the world . . .
—1 Corinthians 4:13

Quote[/b] ]These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or "filth of the world." "Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . ." ( Colossians 1:24 ) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being "separated to the gospel of God . . ." ( Romans 1:1 ).

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . ." (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, "I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend." And you don’t have to—you can be saved by the "skin of your teeth" if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is "separated to the gospel . . . ." Or you can say, "I don’t care if I am treated like ’the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed." A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but "to reveal His Son in me . . ." ( Galatians 1:16 ).

 

[Kidan]

Verse in context

Quote[/b] ]8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

The verse used today is a jab at the Corinthians about being to prideful. Paul is telling them that they have received everything they have from Christ, so why are they bragging about it, as if they had done it themselves.

He describes himself and the other apostles, as last in line. Convicts awaiting death, basically the scum of the earth, because they are not that prideful. He's saying "I don't care how I'm treated, I just want YOU (and all others) to grow spiritually in Christ."

Self-Denial and humility are two very important aspects of Christianity that are missing (at least in America and most of the western world). We have all this wealth, and we say 'Look what we've built,' we have all these modern miracles and we say 'Look at the work of our hands.'

This is the wrong path to take. We should always praise God for the things that He has blessed us with. It's not what we've built, but what God has blessed us with.

Remember, we are to be sanctified and holy, not prideful, not boastful, not hurtful, but patient and loving. For we were loved first, and have been shown the greatest love: Salvation.