1 Corinthians 4

vs 1 … Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t. We are servants of Christ, not his masters. We are guides into God’s most sublime secrets, not security guards posted to protect them.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if all church leaders acted this way? As if the word of God wasn’t so high up above our heads that we’re not supposed to even attempt to grab it. My current pastor now has the most amazing knack of taking a verse and breaking it down into the most simple possible manner and then showing us how to teach ourselves to apply it to our lives – which is so much more important than doing it for us. You can give a man a fish or teach him to fish …

vs 3 … It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless.

This goes back to what we read yesterday. I am NOT important. Not when compared to GOD. Not when compared to what He has done for us and given to us.

For years, I let everyone else’s opinion of me shape me and mold me and twist me into something I couldn’t even recognize anymore. If someone thought I was too loud, I quieted down. If someone thought I was too quiet, I got louder. Too giving, I would be more selfish. Too selfish, I would start giving more. Not good enough, I would always try harder, harder, harder, until I pleased somebody – anybody. After years of struggling to be the perfect person, I gave up. I was never going to be good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, fun enough … why even bother?

Then I became a Christian, and realized that all of those things didn’t matter. Because even when I’m a total screw-up, God still loves me. And to Him, I am good enough, smart enough, pretty enough and fun enough. Because He created me this way. And if God likes me, then I’m pretty sure I can learn to like myself. It was a long battle, but well worth it.

vs 7 … For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing?

It is so very often to share my thoughts and feelings with you. You may not know me and I may not know any of you, but I am here for you. I want to learn with you, I want to grow with you. I want you to learn and grow with me. We are here in Christ together, so we need to make the most of it. Whether we’re right or wrong … in the good times and the bad.

vs 21 … So how should I prepare to come to you? As a severe disciplinarian who makes you toe the mark? Or as a good friend and counselor who wants to share heart-to-heart with you? You decide.