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Monday, 20 September 2010

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 - Fathers, not guardians

Paul has said some firm things, and will get even more severe later on, but his purpose is doing this is not to belittle or shame them, but to help them. We have problems with receiving criticism. Part of the reason for this is that many times when people criticise someone else they are seeking to do them down, or seeking to demonstrate their own superiority. From our own perspective, the fact that we need criticism, ie that there are some areas in our lives where we need to improve can offend our ego. All this is the result of sin.
When we come into the kingdom we need to unlearn many things, and we need to learn that the Father disciplines us for our good, in order to produce a harvest of righteousness (Hebrews 12). Within the church we need to change our relationships with each other. Paul says they have many guardians, but few fathers. If we have authority over others it is not as mere instructors. We need to have a father heart.
When we are criticised ourselves we often experience a fleshly reaction against it, we don't like it. We need to take a step back. Remind ourselves that we are children of God and God only wants to make us all that we can be.
These new relationships cannot really be taught, but can only be received by experience. So Paul sent Timothy to help the church.
We now get the first hint of trouble in church in its attitude towards Paul. There were some who were against him and accused him of various things. One of these was that by not having visited them recently he was in some way neg electing them. Paul was coming to visit them. When he did the arrogant people would be dealt with. Troublemakers are usually very good at talking, but the Kingdom is about power, nit just talk.

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