Jump Start # 113

1 Corinthians 4:11-13 “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.”

 These words of Paul are hard to grasp. This was not a pity party nor an attempt to gain advantage of some. This was just the way it was. This was reality. This was the baptism of fire that the Lord had long ago talked about. This is the cup of sufferings that they would have to drink. The expression, “scum of the world” brings the image of the oil filling the Gulf. Times have certainly changed. Today the apostles are held in high regard. Cities, universities, and church buildings are named after the apostles. Book stores are lined with many volumes about the lives of the apostles. We name our children after the apostles. Museums throughout the world house masterpieces portraying the apostles. In Europe one can find many cathedrals which are lined with statues of the apostles. Times have certainly changed for the apostles.

  Looking at what Paul says here we notice more closely, external affects (such as being hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, and homeless) and the harsh rejection from others (roughly treated, reviled, persecuted, slandered). The external affects wear us down. We hurt physically and lose our steam. The harsh rejection hurts on the inside. It hurts our feelings, self image and makes us question if we are doing right.

  Christ had said that His people would be hated because of Him. When the enemies of Christ run out of arguments they turn to violence. They did this first with Christ Himself. It has never stopped since.

  We also must notice Paul’s reaction to this sordid treatment he received. He shows a contrast here. When reviled, we BLESS. When persecuted, we ENDURE. When slandered, we try to CONCILIATE. We need to learn from this. We often fail at this. We want to get in the mud and fight with those who roll their lips at us. That’s not the way of Christ! If you light is shinning, it will bother some. You may lose a friendship. You may receive some snide remarks. Folks may whisper when you leave a room. Some will challenge you, test you to see if you crack or can take it. We are not near the level of suffering as the apostles were, but do not think for a moment that all is peaceful. It is not. Darkness hates the light. Those of the darkness will make your life uncomfortable. Sometimes it comes from our family. That is hard to deal with. Sometime it will come from co-workers, whose whole ambition is to make it to Friday so they can party like an idiot. They have no tolerance for prayers, Bible or talk of God. In the mud is where they want to dwell. Sometimes it is strangers who raise an ugly and loud voice.

  We see here how we should act. We remember our Lord, when challenged and ridiculed, He did not return insults. Human nature fires up when we are under fire. We want to launch a few missiles back toward the enemy line. Can’t do that. That hurts the image more than anything else. Defending the gospel does not give us a right to attack, slander or use the mindless, hurtful tactics that the enemy uses. We carry the name of Christ!

  One other thought here, why? Why did Paul put up with all this junk? Why allow others to treat you this way? There is only one answer, Christ. He was right. He knew that. He knew what was awaiting him, Heaven. He knew this is what Christ wanted him to do.  It’s tough. It’s hard to walk into a place where people stare at you and you know they don’t like you. And it’s not you, it’s what you believe in. It’s easy to want to run. It’s easy to compromise. But we don’t. We can’t. We walk with the Lord, all the way to Heaven.

Roger