Scripture Reading : 1 Corinthians 4
Theme : True Servants of Christ
This is the concluding passage regarding divisions in the Corinthian church over different ministers.
- The right way of viewing God’s ministers (4:1-5). Christian ministers are, above all else, servants of Christ. The term “servants” literally means the lowest galley slaves, which were the most menial, unenvied, and despised of slaves. Because all ministers are no more than servants and only God alone can judge the true spiritual value of that service, it is not only destructive, but ridiculous to cause divisions in the church by arguing over who is the most honoured servant.
- The wrong way of viewing God’s ministers (4:6-13). In contrast to the humility of God’s faithful servants, the Corinthians were full of worldly, carnal pride. They had gone far beyond scriptural respect for ministers (cf. 1 Thess. 5:12, 1 Tim. 5:17) and had developed factions that were virtually sects. Such pride deceived them into thinking that they had everything in themselves. Yet there are no good thing that they did not receive (cf. James 1:17).
- The godly example of God’s ministers (4:14-21). The apostle has been stern in rebuking the Corinthians’ sins. Yet, he is harsh to them because he loves them as a father loves his children. As their spiritual father, he was responsible for their spiritual welfare and could not bear for them to be straying from God’s Word and the fullness of Christian life (cf. 3 John 4, Gal. 4:19, Phil. 1:23-27). Therefore, he admonishes (v.14a), loves (v.14b), fathers (v.15), sets an example (v.16-17a), teaches (v.17b) and disciplines them (v.18-21) for an effective discipleship relation.
Praying the Scripture
- A popular game played by many Christians is that of evaluating pastors. All kinds of criteria are used to determine who are the most successful, the most influential, the most gifted, the most effective. However, servants of God should not be ranked at all, by others or by themselves because no human being is qualified to examine and evaluate God’s servants. Only God alone is the judge of their spiritual service and will give them their commendation in the last days (cf. 1 Pet. 5:4). Nevertheless, God’s faithful servants are to receive proper honor and respect (1 Thess. 5:12, 1 Tim. 5:17). Let’s pray that we will be submissive to our leaders within the bound of Scripture and also pray that our leaders will be obedient to God’s Word and faithful in feeding His flock.
- The whole foundation of the Corinthians’ boasting was nothing more than a fabrication of their pride. Like the Laodiceans, they considered themselves rich and in need of nothing. Also like the Laodiceans, however, they were really “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” (Rev. 3:17) The life of discipleship is the life of servanthood, and the life of servanthood is the life of humility. Therefore, no one has reason to boast in himself. That which the Lord loves in His servants, and that which eventually will bring them reward and glory, is a humble and obedient spirit (1 Pet. 5:6). Let’s pray that we will not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but to think with sober judgment (Rom. 12:3).
经文：哥林多前书4
主题：基督属实的仆人
这是对哥林多教会因各别事工而起的分歧的总结段落。
- 对神执事的正确看法（4:1-5）。基督徒执事首先是基督的仆人。译为“执事”的原文指的是最低层的奴隶，也就是最卑微、最不令人羡慕及受最大鄙视的奴隶。由于所有的执事只不过是仆人，且唯有神能判断他们事奉的真实属灵价值，因此为谁是最尊贵的仆人起争执，以致造成教会分裂的举动不但有害，更是可笑的。
- 对神执事的错误看法（4:6-13）。与神忠实仆人的谦卑相反的是，哥林多人是属世的，且满怀肉体的骄傲。他们已经超越了圣经所言给执事当有的尊敬（参：帖前5:12，提前5:17），还结党成派，如宗派似得。这种骄傲令他们自以为自己是充足的。然而，他们所拥有的各样美善的恩赐都是神所赐的（参：各1:17）。
- 神执事的敬虔例子（4:14-21）。使徒保罗至今都在严厉指责哥林多人的罪。然而，他所展现的苛刻是出于他对哥林多教会像父一般的爱。身为他们的属灵之父，保罗对他们的属灵健康有责，并不愿他们偏离神的话及基督徒生活的丰富（参：约三4，加4:19，腓1:23-27）。因此，他告诫（14节上）、爱（14节下）、养育（15节）、做榜样（16-17节上）、教导（17节下）并管教他们（18-21节），以坚固这师徒关系。
用经文祷告
- 许多信徒爱玩的游戏就是评估牧师；他们使用各种标准决定谁是最成功、最有影响力、最有恩赐及最有效的牧者。然而，不论是他人或自己所设，神的仆人根本不该有等级，因为无人有资格察验并评估神的仆人。唯有神是他们属灵事奉的评判者，而神必在末日给予他们应得的奖赏（参：彼前5:4）。虽然如此，神忠实的仆人是当受到得宜的尊荣与敬重的（帖前5:12，提前5:17）。让我们祷告我们会照圣经的话顺服我们的领袖，并祈求我们的领袖也会遵从神的话，并忠实喂养神的羊群。
- 哥林多人夸口的根本就是他们的骄傲。如老底嘉教会一样，他们认为自己是富足的，一样都不缺；然而，也如同老底嘉教会一样，他们实际上是“困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的”（启3:17）。门徒之生是作仆人之生，而仆人之生是谦卑之生。因此，无人有理由因自己夸口。一个谦卑、顺服的人必一个爱主仆人的人，日后也必得到赏赐与荣耀（彼前5:6）。让我们祷告我们不要看自己过于所当看的，要照着神所分给各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道（罗12:3）。
