1 Corinthians 4:6
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
Pride is a sin. But sadly, most people do not see it as something serious and destructive. Let us hear what God thinks about pride. Proverbs 6:16-19, These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
An abomination means it is something God detests and despises greatly. In other words, these are not only things God hates, but He hates them with great intensity.
Notice, at the front of the list is a proud look. The reason why someone thinks he can lie with his tongue (lying tongue) and get away with it, is because he is proud. The reason why someone thinks he can shed innocent blood and not answer for it, is because he is proud. The reason why someone dares to devise wicked imaginations, is because he is proud, and the list goes on. Pride is the mother of all those sins!
A person may be saved by the gospel of Christ, but after salvation, he can still fall into the sin of pride. An individual or even an entire church can be affected with pride. Thus, we have to beware of pride!
Pride was the main issue with the Corinthian church. They were divided as a church, and always fighting amongst themselves as to who was better, Paul, Apollos or Peter. The root reason behind the division was pride.
One of the reasons why Paul was writing this letter to the Corinthians was to stop the sin of pride. Once this problem in the church was addressed, the rest of the other issues would be dealt with accordingly.
For these two weeks, we will consider this theme of dealing with pride in the church.
The Exhortation
1 Corinthians 4:6, And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
In a figure transferred means as “an example applied to myself and to Apollos for your sakes.” And these things refer to what Paul had just told the Corinthians about the leader that the leader was but a farmer (1 Corinthians 3:6), a builder (1 Corinthians 3:10), a minister and a steward (1 Corinthians 4:1).
So, all these things (being a farmer, builder, minister and steward), Paul had applied them as an example for himself and Apollos. It was for the Corinthians’ sake so that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
That which is written is a reference to the Scriptures, and in this context, it was about that which was written regarding the ministers and pastors. In a sense, Paul was saying to the Corinthians, “You fight over who is better, Paul or Apollos, but you have seen how we have lived our lives according to what the Bible says about us; we are but farmers, builders, ministers and stewards. If you have truly seen and learned from us, then you should not think of us above what the Bible talks about us.” Essentially, that was what Paul was trying to do!
It is right to honour the servants of God who have served faithfully, as 1 Timothy 5:17 said, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. There is a place for respect and honour for church leaders, but one must never go beyond the scriptural respect, and idolize them, or create factions because of them. They must not go beyond that which was written about them.
That was what the Corinthians were doing, but the truth was that they were not actually glorifying the leaders but themselves. That was why Paul said, you are puffed up for one against another.
The word puffed up means to blow up; it is to have an inflated view of oneself. Pride cannot remain silent, it will brag to be puffed up to a size, one is not. But if he were to just pause for a moment and consider that which is written, or what the Bible teaches, he will realize there is absolutely no ground for pride.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
(To be continued in the next pastoral chat)