1 Corinthians 1:4-9
You x 11
Did you notice all the you’s and yours as you read? Of the 101 words in this section, 11 of them refer specifically to the Corinthians, and only 1 is an I that refers to Paul. This observation challenges me, because when I write a letter or speak to others, I use so many more I’s than you’s. You too? So, since Paul is so other-oriented, let’s look at what he has to say to his readers:
- They have God’s grace in Christ Jesus
- They have been enriched in every way in Him—in their speaking and knowledge
- Their lives confirmed Paul’s testimony about Christ
- They don’t lack any spiritual gift
- They eagerly wait for their Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed
- They will be kept strong to the end by Him
- They will be blameless on the day Jesus Christ returns
- They are called by God into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, their Lord
- They know God is faithful
This passage is one of those good-but-hard-ones for me to read. I’ve been realizing that while I can care about others when they’re around, when I’m by myself or busy doing what I think is important, others’ deep concerns aren’t even on my radar screen. And, while praying for others is on the top of my wish-to-do list, it ends up being at the bottom of my “done” list. Can you identify?
I could rationalize and say I’m this way because I know God is working and I trust Him. But mainly I’m this way because I tend to concentrate on what’s in front of me. I’d rather be someone who has others on my heart as I talk with the Father. Can you identify?
My personal hope is that since God could take Paul from being an accomplishment-driven person to a man who saw that loving people was the best way to accomplish with God had given him to do, He can do the same for me—and you?
The Christian life is a balance of seeing ourselves and others from God’s point of view, doing what He puts in front of us, and being other-minded as we see them through God’s eyes.
