1 Corinthians 4:8-13

1 Corinthians 4:8-13
⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!  ⁹ For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

Sarcasm at it's best.  The Corinthian church had all it's physical needs met so they assumed they had become fully sanctified and did not need to learn any more.  Paul mocked them by alluding toward the millennial kingdom when we will reign with Christ.  He, their teacher, had not yet arrived at their level of perfection. He continued his rebuke with comparisons so they would understand how much their pride had clouded their thoughts and actions.

  ¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

The apostles endured everything for the cause of Christ and responded only as Christ would have them respond.

So the questions I ask myself and you that are reading this:  Are we puffed up and prideful?  Are we willing to suffer anything for the cause of Christ?

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.