Answer Kindly
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
1 Corinthians 4:10-13
Paul is clarifying that it is not worldly wealth or worldly understanding that makes a difference in our eternal lives. He is using sarcasm to establish a dramatic difference between the rulers who apparently are doing pretty well and the tough situation that he and other disciples are in.
He also demonstrates how he is called to financial independence in order to establish peace in the abuse that he is up against.
"When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it..."
In my life I find it difficult when I have people go against me. I like to have everyone around me happy and enjoying the time we share together. But as demonstrated by this scripture, that isn't the experience of walking out the truth of the gospel. Unexplainably people stand in the way with their criticisms and their curses.
In this scripture Paul describes how to react to these circumstances. As Christ taught, we are to turn the other cheek. It is not an easy thing, but an important one.
In my circumstances, I am not confronted with the difficult persecutions that Paul had to live through, but there are subtle hardships. They come from every component of my relationships in life. From within the church, from my family, from coworkers and from friends. Sometimes I feel like a second class citizen because of my faith. Intellectuals scoff during conversations. Some of my children think I'm old fashioned, some of my old friends and family think I'm a kook.
I'm sure that Paul faced these sorts of things in his day too. In my life the thing I am learning is to respond the same way Paul has taught in this scripture. Answer kindly.
Though troubles may come from those around us and even those we love, we ask Your kindness to abound from us Lord. Give us a heart for sharing the gospel through our actions, through our very countenance showing grace and mercy to those who misunderstand us and do not understand who You are Lord. Assist them in coming close to You Lord. Bless my coworkers, friends and family. Even those who scoff. Even those who disassociated themselves with me. Bring them to a saving knowledge of who You are Lord Jesus. Help us to work together to effect the large populations who do not understand what Your gospel means.
Created about 2 years ago
