“Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!” 1 Corinthians 4:8 NIV
Reflection: are you open for correction?
If I look back at my life, there are some major forks in the road where I had to make a decision which path to follow. Some of these came from others around me giving me feedback about myself that weren’t necessarily easy to hear. I remember one, in particular, my first job evaluation after graduate school. It wasn’t very flattering, let’s just say, and it reflected someone I didn’t recognize. It was humbling, as I expected a stellar review. Now, in hindsight, do I think it was a fair evaluation? No. But there were definitely truths in there, especially about my pride that were just hard for me to hear. And after a significant amount of self reflection, I decided to accept the feedback, to really try to make some changes in how I worked with my colleagues. And looking back, I am now so very thankful for the feedback and course correction, as I am sure this helped propel me into advanced positions and senior management roles.
In our verse today, Paul is writing what seems like a very nice comment to the church in Corinth, spiritually speaking he says “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign” 1 Corinthians 4:8a NIV. Now, when we first read this, we might think it is Paul praising them. It is as if you were getting a glowing evaluation, saying “You have basically a perfect score, your work is excellent, and you have excelled in every way possible. You will soon be running the place. Keep up the good work”. First we might think, or even say, “Wow. That is so great to hear, how great I am.” But, for the more mature individual, you know this cannot be the full picture. No one is that perfect, so it is not honest.
Well, turns out Paul is saying this to the church sarcastically. Let’s see how he continues. Starting with our focus verse for context “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.” 1 Corinthians 4:8-13 NIV.
It is probably very hard to hear this for the Corinthians, that they look at themselves so advanced, so prideful, spiritually speaking, much beyond their teachers. And Paul wasn’t trying to ridicule or shame them, but to give them a “bucket of cold water”, so to speak, so they would wake up and course correct. “I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.” 1 Corinthians 4:14 NIV. It was a loving correction, as from a spiritual father which Paul considered himself to be for them. Pride, one of the attitudes the Lord hates the most, because it is impossible to talk to and offer correction to a prideful person. It is therefore one of the favorite vices of the devil. As the wisdom goes, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 NIV. Oh, so true.
Is someone trying to give you a loving correction, but it is hard for you to listen, and to hear it? Perhaps it is a major course correction, and the Lord is using this person to try to get your attention, before you fall? “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10 ESV