Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Corinthians 4 and Psalm 116

In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul wrote to correct the pride among the Corinthians Christians, and addressed sinful attitudes like being “puffed up” and “boasting”. These Corinthians had actually come to look down on Paul and the other apostles, whom they viewed as foolish, weak and dishonoured. By contrast, they viewed themselves as wise, strong and honoured (v.10). Can you believe that? Talk about arrogant.

In a thoroughly frustrated chapter, Paul offered correction and a proper approach to Christian humility, which he says both he and Apollos pursued. He wrote:

¹This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. ² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

By contrast to the prideful Corinthians, the apostle Paul – who had been so powerfully used by the Lord in spreading the Gospel to many cities, leading many to salvation, and discipling many in the ways of Jesus – understood himself very clearly to be nothing more (and nothing less) than a servant of Christ and a steward of the Gospel. He had not been called to a life of privilege, popularity and honour. His highest calling was to advance the cause of Christ through a life of servanthood and stewardship; and his life was now dedicated to pursuing this cause.

Interestingly, the word Paul used for a “servant” in this chapter was not the more common word, “doulos“, but “hyperetas“, which literally means an “under-rower” – an oarsman on a big galley ship. In this context Paul means that we are to be under-rowers who serve to pull in the direction given by Christ, the master-pilot of the Kingdom. An “under-rower” acts faithfully under the Lord’s direction and consistently does the thing he/she is called and appointed to do without hesitation. Under-rowers are content to be faithful and accountable servants to the One Who is over us. That should have been the atitude of the Corinthians, and it should be our attitude too.

Life application: How can you adopt the position of a servant to humbly and faithfully advance the Kingdom today?