1 Cor 4 Look up to the true Christian

Apostle Paul asked the Christians in Corinth to regard him not as some big shot leader but as a servant in Christ who has been entrusted with mysteries from God. And Paul knew since he has been given a trust, he has to prove himself faithful. Probably the Christians there did not highly regard Paul but Paul did not care how they would judge him. And he does not even judge himself. God is going to judge him and God will reveal the hearts of everyone in time to come, so nothing will be hidden.

Paul urged the Christians to learn from him regarding being faithful and not go beyond what has been written and taught. But the Christians were puff up, boasting of who they are following, and what special gifts they have, arguing, debating out of jealousy in church. Paul says they were so strong, so intelligent, so capable in the eyes of men and the apostles are like stumbling block to the world, scums of the earth, garbage to the world, such contradictions!

I thought nobody will look up to the scums of the earth, who will look up to someone who is not capable, not successful. Will you look up to someone who keep telling you not to follow the world, not to chase after money, not to chase over materialism, to forgive those who hurt you, forgive those who betrayed you. People loves to follow successful and capable people of the world. It doesn't matter if they are spiritual or not, people loves the fact is these successful people had made it. And thus following them shouldn't be wrong.

Even now a days, I thought, churches are following this trend to attract more followers. Now a days, preachers need to look good, talk good, charismatic, charm the whole crowd. People will keep pouring in, they are attracted to this preacher, the concert-style worship rather than the bible, the apostles, Jesus, the scums of the world. Sometimes, I thought, modern Christians, including myself are like a mockery to those Christians in the first century. We have failed to see the heart of these apostles, early Christians.

Paul called all of us to imitate him. How am I imitating him? I have to totally devout myself to the bible, to have deep character studies on the people in the Bible. And learn from them their fear and respect and love for God and His word. How many true Christians are there in the world and I prayed that I will wholeheartedly seek after God's heart.