P18 Fools For Christ

1 Corinthians 4:7–13

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?  8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

Notice that verses 9 and 13 seem to be a parenthesis to verse 10. Both testifying to how Christians of the world are perceived by the world.

Spectacle unto the world v9

We are fools for Christ’s sake v10

The filth of the world v13

An open and closed parenthesis to “fools for Christ”.

Paul loved the Corinthians Churches, but when it came to exalting men he certainly had reason to rebuke them.

They thought themselves wise in Christ, he believed himself and the apostles fools for Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:21

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

And for this he was willing to risk all.

Spectacle To The World

1 Corinthians 4:7–9

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?  8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 

Paul writes of the distinction between how the brethren of the Corinthians Churches think of themselves and compares that to how the apostles and those suffering for the work of the Gospel are thought of by the world.

It is difficult to see if it is satire or sarcasm that Paul is employing in this passage as he attempts to bring about humility in the hearts of his self conceited brethren;

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 

He goes on in the next verse;

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 

What seems clear is that the Corinthians Churches thought of themselves more highly than they ought to have thought.

Turn back to Romans 12

It is interesting that Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Rome, but in writing to the Romans from Corinth, Paul said;

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Beloved, there is that remnant of the flesh that resides within all of us that likes to think of ourselves more highly than we should, we are charged however to think “soberly”, and as Paul writes, “according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”

And this is how Paul begins his chastisement of them in our passage in 1 Cor 4:7.

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

“Why are you boasting of yourselves, why are you lifting up yourselves as if something in you was seen by God as worthy of the gift given you?”

7 …. what hast thou that thou didst not receive?

Beloved, none of us have a right to boast if that which we have received has been distributed to us by God. 

If we are given a gift, it is not boasting but RESPONSIBILITY that ought to temper our hearts.

God has disposed to each man, gifts and responsibilities according to his own will, neither do we have a right to ENVY those God has called.

 It was pride and ENVY that led to the jealousy and destruction of  Korah, Dathan and Abarim after they compared themselves against Moses and Aaron in Num 16.

We saw the same against Miriam when she spoke against her brother Moses to his older brother Aaron in Numbers 12.

God dealt with them and you can read the account of those events in Numbers 12 and Numbers 16. 

The point is that Moses was called of God for a particular work and so too was Aaron, but so too were Miriam and Korah, Dathan and Abarin, all these were called to a work, but thought it a “small thing” and so envied their brethren for the calling with which they were called.

Numbers 16:9

9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

Beloved, you and I are going to receive the reward from the Lord based on how we exercise the gifts we have been given. Some are given much, others little, let each be faithful in the calling by which you are called. 

We are not to Boast but nor are we to envy!

Do not boast!

Isaiah clarified that which Paul addresses in verse 7;

Isaiah 10:15

15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.

And DO NOT ENVY;

1 Corinthians 12:21–23

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

1 Corinthians 4:7–99 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 

None of the apostles escaped persecution, and all but one were killed for their work in Christ, “as it were appointed to death”.

It did not go unnoticed at the times of their lives that the Roman theatres and games were the great distractions of the populace.

Such theatre was populated, not by paid actors but by what the government of the day called “criminals”. Such were into such gladiatorial battles for the amusements of the people, a literal “spectacle unto the world”.

The gladiators who managed to fight and to take the life of the other man appointed to death, would live by the “kill or be killed” force of the law…but this was only in the morning, the afternoons they, together with the women, would be troubled by beasts. 

Wild animals were brought from all the far flung places of the empire for the sake of the “spectacle”

Each were appointed to death, and became a spectacle unto the word, and to angels and to men.

But not the Corinthians…they were above all that it seems.

Fools For Christ

1 Corinthians 4:10

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose”. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary to Ecuador 1956.

The world would say such an endeavour was a foolish errand. 

Who on earth would venture into the jungles of Ecuador to reach a wild and untouchable people to tell them about Jesus Christ, who he is and why he came?

The world would think this foolish, and yet five young men believed it was worth giving their young lives for. 

Jim Elliot was only 28 years of age, together with Nate Saint the Pilot, 32 yrs, Ed McCully 29yrs, Pete Flemming, the youngest at 27yrs and Roger Youderian aged 31, each of them killed on the same day by the leaders of the Auca Tribesmen.

Fools for Christ!

While the Corinthian Churches were busy elevating themselves and comparing themselves among themselves and seeing who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Paul and the apostles were busy doing the work they were called to do,accountable to no one but Christ alone.

They were FOOLS FOR CHRIST because they trusted him implicitly, they trusted that God can bring about a work through any single individual who would hold themselves accountable to God himself and none else.

They cared little for what others thought of them, and

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 

Who, like Moses, 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Hebrews 11:25–26

Just like the people of the world, many Churches today think this to be foolish. 

They wont trust in the words of the Lord, they wont live by faith, they look only to this life and this life’s goods, 

they think little of the lost, caring little that the damned have not heard the gospel because they are too afraid they might be laughed at or scorned, or lose some privileges, or have goods confiscated, or life imprisoned. 

Psalm 10:4

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Sadly, the contemporary Church of today is little different from the contemporary Church in Paul’s day.

While men such as Paul are seen as  “fools for Christ’s sake”, they themselves are “wise in Christ”.

They have their doctorates and love to be called in the market places “Rabbi, Rabbi”. And Christians exalt the men who with letters before their names, men  who are popular, have a platform, are known by people around the world, they think not that their own Saviour, “the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Mat 8:20).

They squabble over the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the Church (Mt 23:6). 

1 Corinthians 4:9–10

9… for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 

The hatred of the world is coming to our doors soon enough. 

There is a reason why the secular world and the Islamic world have come together, even though they themselves are naturally at enmity one with the other. 

It is because both are haters of the God we love. 

True Christians and Jews love the same Lord; and so the Jihadic Islamic world and the secular left love their god, for their father is the devil, and the lusts of their father they will do, “He was a murder from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it”. (Jn 8:44)

Christians who love God are despised, hated and reviled, but those of the contemporary Church who are ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ, will be honoured and loved by the world that hates Christ.

Those willing to compromise on truth are loved by those who hate the very concept of it.

Those pastors willing to accept sin in their Churches will be loved by those who love their sin.

Pastors willing to twist the scriptures will be adored by those who wrest them to their own destruction.

Titus 1:15

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Those however who live for Christ and willing to suffer and die for the gospel of Christ are fools for Christ sake.

They are they “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb 11:38).

They are willing to stand alone!

Being Reviled We Bless

1 Corinthians 4:11-12

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 

Paul continues his comparison to those who are filled in themselves.

He writes in the present tense of the presents trials and the present poverty;

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;

We live in a certain level of vanity today that thinks prosperity is a sign of God’s blessing.

Paul wrote of the lustful hearts of individuals even in the Church who suppose that gain is godliness;

Turn to;

1 Timothy 6:4–10

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

I say this because even to this very day many Christians continue to think that God’s blessings are seen ONLY when things are going well.

We seem to default into thinking we are in the centre of Gods will when everything is going good; when there are no trials, no difficulties, no roadblocks. 

When smooth sailing happens, we clearly have the favour of the gods (Ooops, sorry, of God).

Smooth sailing shows favour? We forget Paul endured no less that THREE Shipwrecks. One commentator noted that after three shipwrecks, if you had seen Paul get on your ship youd probably think of getting off.

God’s blessings are not identified in the scriptures with everything working out well, that is how the PAGANS see the ‘FAVOUR OF THE GODS’, not Christians who serve the living God who works all trust THROUGH our trials.

Turn to 

2 Corinthians 11:22–30

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Therefore, being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: ….we labour, working with our own hands:

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; 

While you may think this to be discouraging, even FOOLISH, know of a certainty that those who live for Christ think it to be the greatest joy and privilege of their lives.

They are ‘FOOLS FOR CHRIST SAKE”.

The Filth Of The World

1 Corinthians 4:13

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

They are removed from their homes and commanded on their knees.

They fall to their hands and herded like cattle.

“Bark” goes the command and some stay silent until the shots rang out and the men fall.

“Crawl on your hands and knees, Bark like the dogs you are” yell the soldiers as they spread Islam by the sword in the land of Syria earlier this year.

John 15:20

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; …..

Isaiah 50:6

6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Isaiah 52:14

14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Psalm 22:13–18

13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Zechariah 13:6

6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Isaiah 53:3

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Zechariah 11:12

12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

Isaiah 53:7–9

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

John 15:20

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; …..

Hebrews 11:37–38

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

The proud expectation of the contemporary Church is measured against the master they claim to serve. 

Hearts lifted in pride as if this world has something to offer them, something to honour them. 

The gloating of hearts that have forgotten why we are here, 

The ambition of contemporary Christians who seek to live their best lives now, measured against the sufferings of the Saviour who died that they may live…..

Treasures on earth and the praises of men is the desire of a heart destitute of God and of the son of God.

But not those who are seen as “The filth of the world”. They are blessed in their trials. They rejoice in their sufferings.

Can you imagine knowing you suffer for Christ Sake? Imagine how it must feel that nothing on this green earth can take away your joy when you KNOW youself to be a Fool for Christ!

Last passage, again to the Corinthians by Paul, tell me if you think, after all he has endured, he has any regret.

 2 Corinthians 6:1–10

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

I would sooner be a fool for Christ than think myself wise in this world.

The Gospel

1 Corinthians 1:18–21

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.