1 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV)
[8] Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!
Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we
might share the rule with you! [9] For I think that God has exhibited us
apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a
spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
If
one were asked which lives were more in line with God’s purpose and calling,
the Corinthians or the Apostles, the obvious answer would be the Apostles. Yet
here we have an interesting comparison. The Corinthians were wealthy and
comfortable. The Apostles were poor and uncomfortable. The clear lesson is the
exact opposite of what we so often hear in the church. Blessing does not equal
approval.
The
fact that life is comfortable and we have all that we need does not imply that
God is therefore pleased with us. That was the heresy of the Pharisees. That was
the lie the Corinthians had bought into. The Apostles, whom God entrusted to
lay the foundation of the church, were said to be hungry, thirsty, poorly
dressed, buffeted, and homeless (1 Cor 4:11). That is a description of the
people we naturally assume God is not pleased with. Those are the people we
avoid, all the while feeling justified in our own lukewarm faith because, “God
has blessed us.”
It
is time we stop excusing half-hearted commitment, reasoning that God must be
pleased because he has blessed us. It is time we realize that “to whom much was
given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much,
they will demand the more” (Lk 12:48). God’s blessing does not imply God’s
approval. God’s blessing means more responsibility. God’s blessing means more
accountability. What are we doing with that with which God has blessed us? Are
we guarding our comfortable lifestyle, or are we dying daily to self that we
might glorify our Lord? Jesus said,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it
profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke
9:23-25.
Blessing
does not equal approval.
Comments
Post a Comment