1Co 4They were to account these laborers as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. God had committed to them to tell out what He had for men. They endeavored to be faithful, and what the Corinthians said about the apostle did not matter much; he left all that to the Lord. He was not conscious that he was wrong. He might judge wrongly, but the Lord would judge rightly of his service and stewardship, though he was not justifying himself. He would wait on the Lord's judgment. Everything will be made manifest when He comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart's, then each will have his praise from God.
They were quite wrong in setting one above another. He had used his own name and that of Apollos to illustrate what he was rebuking them for. All the teachers and evangelists were stewards, and each would give account to his own Master. Who made them to differ? What they had as gift they had received it from the Giver, so that they had nothing to boast of. It is seen how far they had got into the world. What a contrast their lives, and it may be our lives, were and are from that of this heavenly-minded apostle. We may well take it to heart.
Verse 8. "Already ye are filled;" but not with Christ. "Already ye have been enriched," but it was with the world's gain. They were reigning as kings, but without the apostles. It was worldliness; and in the sorrow of his heart, he says, "I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you." He longed for the day when all the Lord's people would be perfect with the Lord. What suffering was his, his words show. "I think that God has set forth us as the apostles last, as appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." It was a path of suffering for the Lord, and for the truth. "We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day." He was indeed "filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in His flesh for His body's sake, which is the assembly.”
What a contrast is the suffering apostle, from the worldly Christians; and see what tenderness and affection mingled with his authority. He did not write to chide them, but as his beloved children he admonished them. If they had ten thousand instructors, yet not many fathers, for "in Christ. Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel," therefore he lovingly entreated them to be followers of himself in his ways for the Lord's glory. He also sent Timothy to them, as a beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who would bring them into remembrance of his ways, as they were in Christ, as he taught everywhere in all the assemblies.
Then he warns those who were puffed up, as if he would not come to them. His intentions were, however, to come, if the Lord and then he would know, not the words, but the power of those who were puffed up. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. Their attitude would determine what God would lead him to do. So he asks, "What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and in a spirit of meekness?" What joy to his heart when he heard of their exercise, and that they had humbled themselves about their ways. May it be so with us, beloved brethren and sisters. May we in humbleness of spirit, be led to search our hearts, and judge our ways.