5/4/10 1 Corinthians 4 & 5
Arrogance
Here Paul continues his strong determination of pointing out to the Corinthian church their sin of arrogance. In chapters 1-3 Paul has called them to repent of their divisive issues over the following certain spiritual leaders. This was hurting one another and hurting the work of the gospel by having prideful attachment to particular spiritual leaders and not others.
In chapter 4 Paul encourages them to look at the spiritual leaders as gifts to the church body. The Corinthians were arrogant for something they had no part in performing. There was no basis for their pride or boasting in the spiritual leaders. Paul actually describes himself and the other apostles as a laughing stock to the world seen and unseen. He tells the Corinthian believers how vastly different the apostle’s are from themselves. The Corinthian’s social status is on the other end of the spectrum of the apostles. Paul desires that they would become kings, but more so he desires that they would follow his fatherly conduct and commitment to the cross even if that means they also become the laughing stock of the community.
In chapter 5 Paul rebukes them for their arrogance concerning a sinning member of the church. All sin is against God and is horrible, but the sin spoken of here (incest) is particularly vile and wicked and Paul says that it does not even exist among the Gentiles. Think of what the unbelieving Gentiles were thinking about this church. Certainly if Paul had learned about this immorality, then those in the surrounding community would have heard or been witnesses of this sinful activity also. Any attempt at evangelism at this point would have been laughable to the unbelievers in Corinth. Paul is concerned at their arrogance and lack of grief surrounding this situation. I am not sure if their arrogance was based in themselves for demonstrating a loving attitude with this professed brother or if their arrogance was based his social status within the community and that he was actually a member of their assembly. Whichever was the case Paul was not pleased with how they were handling the situation.
We must not let arrogance be aroused in us whether it comes from our own social status, or our
“open-mindedness” in relation to dealing with sin, or from a particular individual who may join the church.
(1 Co 4:7)7For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Prayer: Father, Mighty, Holy, Pure and Exalted One, examine my heart today that I may not harbor arrogance at even the minutest level. I ask that my boasting would be found in you and your greatness and your great power. Forgive me from departing from any truth because my arrogance prevented me from following you by seeking acceptance from others. Amen.