1 Corinthians 4:10-11
“We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;”
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Paul the apostle was writing those words to the church in Corinth, a gathering of believers that he had been used by the Lord to start and bring into the kingdom of God. It was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and he stayed there for 18 months preaching and teaching the word of God. {Acts 18:11} That city was also well known for its riches and its rampant immorality. It is important to also remember that it was a very, very religious city filled with the pagan temples of Greek and Roman gods! It was a city that boasted in its prosperity and comfort—something that was certainly not the goal or the condition of Paul who instructed us to present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship. {Rom.12:1}
One of the concerns of the church today is the promise of comfort, ease and material wealth that draws so many in to beautiful and comfortable buildings to hear messages that tickle the ears of people while they avoid sound doctrine, just as Paul foresaw as he spoke of the perilous last days! {2Tim.4:3-4}
Bear in mind that Jesus had taken His disciples away from the comfort and glory of the Temple in Jerusalem to climb a hill and sit on the ground to present them with the glorious truths of the Sermon on the Mount, training them in righteousness. {Mat.5-7} Of course, He was also bringing that message to you and I today—make sure that you hear it and heed it!
That teaching straight from the mouth of the Lord starts with Him saying, “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” {Mat.5:3} And He also taught in the parable of the sower and the seed that the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. {Mat.13:22} Let us be very clear on one point, money is not the problem—it is the love of money that is the root of all sorts of evil. And that, just as Paul warned, leads to temptations, many foolish desires that are snares and harmful, traps that can lead to ruin and destruction. {1Tim.6:9-10} Obviously that is what Paul that faithful bond-servant of God was dealing with in today’s bible verse!
He knew, as we should, that as Solomon wrote long before, “riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” {Prov.11:4} We must live by faith, knowing that God’s promises never fail as Joshua said. {Jos.21:45} With that in mind, let your mind and your heart consider this: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” {Phil.4:19}
Otherwise, give heed to this word from James: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.” {Jas.5:1-2}
Let me close with the words of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the Faithful and True:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
TRUST IN THE LORD WHO WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS |
