“You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.”
1 Corinthians 4:8-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.4.8-10.nlt
Paul gives a stinging reprimand to the Corinthian church because of their awesomeness. Apparently they were living good and getting rather pompous about that. They were getting some respect presumably through leaving out important parts of the gospel.
Paul on the other hand suffered because of his faith, and he had to point out the disconnect.
There were two competing assumptions.
Corinthians: When things are going well we must be experiencing Gods blessings for our goodness.
Paul: When things are going poorly with persecutions, we are doing right in Gods eyes.
We must clarify the logic. Just because our life seems good, that does not mean we are in the center of Gods will. Additionally, just because we are doing right by God, our life might not be going well.
However it does not mean that if things are going well we are absolutely out of Gods will. Nor does it mean that if we are suffering we are automatically in Gods will.
Nonetheless what light does this passage shine on the American church in relationship to the foreign church. Our situation bears resemblance to this one. The American church is prosperous and relatively safe. We have big churches and respect in many areas (though falling). The foreign church is suffering. We could easily hear in our minds the same condemnation from the foreign church that Paul leveled at Corinth.
Would it be accurate?
Maybe. After reading the book, Radical by David Platt, one could easily see a connection. David shows the dire poverty in the foreign church contrasted with the wealth and possible hoarding of the American church.
I am certainly not saying that our affluence proves we are out of Gods will. But it does not show we are either.
We must evaluate our lives with respect to God outside of our affluence with some expectation of suffering for what we believe.
Lord help me to evaluate my life with you accurately. Don't let me confuse secular affluence with spiritual vitality. Help me serve you well as You direct.
