Issue: Self Importance (1 Cor. 4)

The theme over the first four chapters of Corinthians is, " Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought." Everything we now are, all the wisdom we now have belongs to Christ. We own nothing as it says in 1 Cor. 4:1, we are mere managers of God's mysteries.

Have you ever went to a business where the manager acted as the owner? If there is a big problem, the manager only has so much authority; you are going to want to speak with the owner to resolve the matter. Christ is the head we better not supersede our authority as spiritual leaders, or we will be humbled for thinking we are more superior than we indeed are.

As managers, the one who evaluates is the Lord; we need to trust leaders in God's hands rather than judging them trying to determine their real intent, only the Holy Spirit can do that. We must receive from Christ through each other and not put a man on a pedestal.

When leaders forget who is really in charge, their pride will lead to their downfall, for in the Kingdom of God it is the humble who are exalted. Those who are in Christ realize that they are the fools of this world, the dishonored, the persecuted, what has been discarded as garbage. Yet they endure it graciously, as servants of the Lord.
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Unlike the world who can talk a good game, we can back it up; we got the power of God. Our life is living proof that Jesus Christ is resurrected and is continuing His works in and through us.
So, Paul tells the Corinthian church as their spiritual Father, "What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love with a spirit of gentleness? Wow! What a statement! We must be honest with those we love and be willing to discipline when they refuse to take heed to our warnings. Those who are soft are those who don't really care. If we truly love someone we will be truthful even if it hurts.