1 Corinthians 3:18-4:5

Paul is moving toward a conclusion of this issue of divisions in the Church at Corinth.  In today’s passage he has two words of application for his readers.

Ø 3:18-23: Become a fool for Christ so as to be fully blessed.

Yes, you read correctly.  Become a fool!  Of course if you have been following Paul’s thought this makes sense.  There are two philosophies: the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God.  To each the other is a fool.  The man of the world considers the committed Christian to be a fool for his “fanaticism.”  The Bible has the same conclusion for the person who would leave God out of his life (Psalm 14:1).  Paul says the wise of this world are no match for God (v19).  And the thoughts of the wise are futile or empty (v20).  So Paul is appealing with the Corinthians to be fools for Christ.  Excel in Christ.  Excel in faith, hope and love.  

For what reason does he encourage this?  It is because of the blessing that is received, both now and in the age to come.  All the teachers are to benefit the church; it should not be a matter of choosing one’s favorite and rejecting the rest.  And in the end, when Christ is exalted by the Father, we too will be exalted with Him.  As Paul says elsewhere, To live is Christ, to die is gain (Phil. 1:21).  To be a fool for Christ is a win/win situation.

Ø43:18-23: Receive the minister of Christ so as to be fully benefited.

Since all the teachers, Paul and Apollos and Peter, were Christ’s provision for the church they should accept them without the sinful comparison that created division.  Paul uses two important terms to describe himself and the others.  First, they are servants, a Greek term (huperates) that refers to an “under rower” on a ship.  The emphasis is on the fact that he works under someone else.  The men at Corinth served under Christ who had given them to the church (Eph. 4:11-16).  

Second, they were stewards of the mysteries of God.  This term referred to household servants who were given something by the Master of the house to give to the family while the Master was gone.  Paul’s comments about judgment (v3-5) make sense when we remember the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30).  In the parable Jesus, the Master of the house, gave talents to His servants and required them to give account when He returned.  Paul wants the people of the church to stand down in the matter of making judgments.  They should instead benefit from what is being dispensed to the family.  As for the men themselves, they needed to be faithful in doing the work the Master had given them since they will give account to Him (v2).  (Keep in mind that the concern here was not false teaching which must always be discerned by the Church [Ac. 20:27-31]).  

If you have responsibilities in the Body of Christ these are terms that you would do well to consider.  You are a servant of Christ; you do not serve your own interests.  You are a steward of the mysteries of God; be sure that what you give to the family of God comes from Him!