Day 11: 4:14-21 (Imitate Me: A Father’s Loving Admonition in Christ)

- Paul explains that leaders are servants and stewards of Christ, accountable to God alone. Human judgment is limited, but God sees the heart and will judge at the proper time.

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

2. OBSERVATIONS :

•   What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

Paul reminded the Corinthians about the nature of his relationship to them. As the founder of the church he had functioned as their spiritual father. He called on them to follow his example. This might seem surprising in light of the fact that he had just finished rebuking them for identifying themselves as “followers” of him or Peter, or Apollos. However, there is no inconsistency at all in his words. He calls them to follow his “ways in Christ”. Later in Ch. 11:1 He will write, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”. This is very consistent with Paul’s previous statement that he, Apollos, and Peter were servants of Christ.  Paul wanted them to follow his example of not being selfishly ambitious, not seeking to elevate himself, but by living among them as one who, like Jesus, came to serve rather than to be served. (see 4:8-13)

Paul wants them to respond to his gentle correction but if not, he may need to assume a fatherly disciplinarian role.

• What does this passage reveal about God?
  - Jesus is the one we all must follow.  We should only follow humans who are leading us to follow Christ.  

What does this passage reveal about people?
  - When in a position to correct people, we ought always to do so as gently as possible. It is possible to correct bad behavior without shaming the person, and love will always seek to do that. Shame and guilt are powerful tools which we can wield to manipulate behavior but they are not godly tools.

3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
I am reminded of the importance of following Jesus so that those who are influenced by my life will be led to follow Jesus as well.  I am also reminded to always seek to correct sinful behavior or attitudes with a spirit of gentleness.  The goal of correction must never be to “shame” people but to “reclaim” them for the Lord!
 
4. PRAYER:
Lord, help me to be a faithful follower of Jesus so that my life will not only bring glory to God but will also be a good example to others.  Help me to never confront sin and error with a condemning spirit but to always and only do so motivated by love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Randy.