Dear Jesus,

Without you, we are never rich and full of anything that is necessary for loveliness. We want to be more like you and full of you for only then would we be rich in the things that matter the most. Be in us everything, and allow us the furtherance of maturity and selflessness that glorifies you above all else. Amen

Key word: rich

Summary: 1 Cor 4:1-8

Many things are considered worthy of our attention. Money, land, and children, are but a few of these items, and as we reach out to God, sometimes these ideals change and we become transformed into a new man/woman. God will try the hearts of those worthy of the kingdom, and make sure those who are diligent in the things of God shall be rewarded.

1 Corinthians 4:1-8

In our opinion of ministers, we should be careful to avoid extremes. Apostles themselves are not to be overvalued, for they are ministers, not masters; stewards, not lords. They are servants of Christ, and no more, though they are servants of the highest rank. Apostles are not to be undervalued; for, though they are ministers, they are ministers of Christ. The character and dignity of their master puts an honor on them. They have no authority to propagate their own fancies, but to spread Christian faith.

When they do their duty they should be trustworthy. The stewards in Christ's family must appoint what he has appointed. They must give their fellow-servants a job that they themselves want. They must not require any thing from them without their Master's orders. They must feed them with the wholesome food of Christian doctrine and truth. They must teach what he has commanded, and not the doctrines and commandments of men. They must be true to their calling of His interests, and consult his honor.

It is good to have a respectable reputation and esteem among men as a good step towards usefulness in the ministry, however, he that makes it his chief endeavor to please men is not a faithful servant of Christ, Gal 1:10. He that looks like a faithful servant to Christ must despise the criticisms of men for His sake. He must look upon it as a very small thing what judgment men may form of him. They may think wrongfully, while he is doing his duty; but it is not by their judgment that he must stand.

It is comforting that men are not to be our final judges. It is better to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of men, 2 Sam 24:14. The best of men are too apt to judge rashly, but His judgment is always according to truth.

We are not to judge ourselves: We cannot know anything or, cannot charge ourselves with unfaithfulness, yet I am not thereby justified, this will not clear me of the charge; but he that judges me is the Lord. It is his judgment that must determine the sentence I must live with. He shall judge me, It is not judging well of ourselves, justifying ourselves, that will prove us safe and happy. The apostle here cautions the Corinthians against the bold and harsh judgment of others. To judge in these cases, and give a decisive sentence, is to assume the seat of God and challenge his rights.

The judge -Jesus Christ- will bring these things to light. The Lord Jesus Christ will show the thoughts of the heart. The Lord Jesus Christ must have the knowledge of the thoughts of the heart, or he could not make them manifest. This is His divine right. (Jer 17:10),

The apostle here lets us into the reason why he had used his own name and that of Apollos in this letter. He had done it figuratively, and he had done it for their sakes. He chose to mention his own name, and the name of a faithful fellow-laborer, than the names of any heads of factions among them, that he might avoid provoking them.

Here the apostle turns his advice to the ministers who set themselves at the head of these factions, and do much to encourage the Church in those feuds. What had they to glory in, when all their particular gifts were from God? They had received them, and could not brag about them as their own, without insulting God. At that time they reflected on them to feed their vanity, they should have considered them as so many debts and obligations to God. We have no reason to be proud of our attainments, enjoyments, or performances. All that we have, or are, or do, that is good, is because of the free and rich grace of God. Those who receive all should be proud of nothing, Ps 115:1. Beggars and dependents may glory in their support, but to glory in themselves is to be proud.

He impresses upon them the need for humility in a very smart way, or at least scolds them for their pride and self-conceit: "You are full, you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us. You have not only a sufficiency, but an affluence, of spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were elated by the abundance of their wisdom and spiritual gifts, while the apostle was away from them. He wishes that they had as much of the true glory of a Christian church upon them as they think to have. He wanted then a share of the honor.