“Battling a Prideful Spirit”

Good morning, turn in your Bibles with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 4. The title of our message this morning is, “Battling a Prideful Spirit.” The believers at the church in Corinth had been dealing with both a pride and unbelief problem. Wether we realize it or not, pride is the great enemy of God’s people. Pastor and author John Piper is right when he said, “There is a very close relationship between unbelief and pride. Unbelief is a turning away from Jesus in order to seek satisfaction in other things. Pride is a turning away from God specifically to take satisfaction in our selves.”

Are you battling a prideful spirit this morning? Do you boast about the things you have accomplished or done? Have you become conceited?

The text that we are going to look at today can be difficult for many Christians because of the time that we live in. We live in a day where we are creatures of comfort. Our western world has become so selfish and prideful which goes against God and His Word, however this was the exact problem that this early church struggled with. This early church was taking pride in particular spiritual leaders and were becoming arrogant in who they thought they were and even in what they had achieved. Paul knew exactly how deadly pride could be so he confronts them head on.

I think it is tremendously important church for us to be reminded of our Lord’s humility before we move on. Paul explained it this way to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus was gentle and humble in heart. He was a servant and He gave up His life so that we may have life everlasting. This virtue of humbleness is exactly what the Corinthians were struggling with. Paul calls them out by asking who do you think that you are with your prideful attitudes? It is here in our verses today that we see how Paul takes time to contrast the difference between pride and humility. I hope you will following along with me in your Bibles today as we will begin in verse 6 of chapter 4. First Corinthians 4 and verse 6.

1 Corinthians 4:6–13 ESV

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1. Notice that the Lesson was learning by example.

Look back with me at verses six and seven. The lesson or example to learn from is that you will not be puffed up in favor of one against the other. Here we see that Paul is concerned that these people learn a lesson against being prideful.

What does Paul mean when he says that he has applied these things to himself? What are “these things?” These things here refer to the examples that Paul gave us beck in chapters 3 and 4. It is here that Paul talked about the examples of farmers, builders, and stewards who are those that minister for the Lord. Paul uses these examples for the Corinthians, and applies them to himself and Apollos. His reason for doing this is that these believers would not exalt Paul or Apollos and learn not to exceed what it written, so that they may not become arrogant.

Paul here singles out himself and Apollos to be a model for the Corinthians. His aim was that they would see what faithful servants looked like. Paul wanted to do his best to model meekness, humbleness, being submissive and faithful as all ministers should be. As Paul mentions here to not go beyond what is written this is most likely referring to remain within biblical standards for not becoming puffed up or arrogant. The church of Christ will always become fractured and weakened when pride is at the center of everything. There is no way that God will bless his church when there are prideful ministers or prideful people. When pride is at the center of things in the church then inevitably this brings hostility and causes envy, competition, and division.

In verse 7 Paul underlines this appeal by asking three rhetorical questions anticipating the answers of “no one,” and “nothing,” and “no good reason.”

a. Who makes you so superior?

The first question that Paul asks here helps us to understand that Paul is asking who made you any better, or superior to others? No one! Together, the three questions remind the Corinthians that all their spiritual gifts and natural blessings came from God and therefore show them that they have no grounds for boasting.

b. What do you have that has not been given to you?

The second question that Paul asks here is what do you have that you did not receive? What does anyone have that in one way or another was not given to him or her by someone and especially God? We did not give ourselves life. Our IQ, talents, education, health, protection, and care all come from God. We would have nothing except from what the Lord and many others by God’s hand have given us. And as Christians we have been given even more haven’t we? We have salvation, eternal life, God’s presence with us, God’s Word, His love, His peace and His care. We have no reason to boast in our possessions or even in other people, but only in our gracious God.

c. Why boast in what you have been given?

Paul is saying if these Corinthians possessed only what someone else had given them, why were they boasting as if they had designed it or created the things themselves? What this shows us is their boasting and pride. Paul had given his life for the gospel and to help people know Christ. Paul loved this church way to much to allow their pride to be their downfall and for Satan to creep in and mislead them. Paul wanted them to see the seriousness of their sin and for them to begin to have a humble attitude.

2. Notice Paul’s sarcastic response to their pride.

1 Corinthians 4:8 ESV

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

As we come to verse 8 Paul now takes time to address the questions that he asked in verse 7 however, it is difficult to understand this passage because Paul is using irony and sarcasm in his approach. Paul responds with 3 exclamations even though we should not take these in a most literal way. That is why I say that this can be a difficult passage to understand. The first phrase that Paul uses here is that he says hey church it really looks like you guys have all that you want! You are so amazing! You have great spiritual wisdom and perfection. Obviously Paul is being sarcastic with his statement. Paul himself knew that he had not arrived at spiritual perfection because God was still sanctifying him.

Philippians 3:12 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

How in the world could the Corinthians think they were so wise and mature? Paul is mocking that attitude here and scoffing at their claim of being spiritually rich. In fact, this was the Lord’s rebuke to the church at Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3.

Revelation 3:17 ESV

17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

This church in Corinth was missing the blessing and satisfaction of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness or right living because they thought that they had already arrived at this. We must watch out for this mindset church!

Finally, Paul here sarcastically mentions that you have become kings without us. Paul here takes times to suggest that they have already received their crowns from Christ without assistance from Paul or from any of the other apostles. This phrase becoming kings reads more literally “reigned.” If all the blessings of the messianic age had come all at once, then even Paul and the other apostles would have been experiencing the same freedom and perfection that these Corinthians claimed. But they were not. Paul here is putting a mountain of evidence together to show these believers that they have become arrogant and prideful and now it was rather obvious in Paul’s speech of their errors. Hopefully the church would see this and repent of their ways and ask God to keep them humble.

3. Notice that suffering, rejection, and humiliation is part of the life of every true Christian.

1 Corinthians 4:9–11 ESV

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,

If anything would give us a picture of Paul’s life it would look like a life of suffering. The life that God gave to Paul and the Apostles and to every disciple was to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. This means that our lives will not always be easy. This means that we as believers may even face rejection and humiliation. Why do I take time to tell you this today?

Because this mindset goes against what many churches are teaching today. There are many churches today who believe that if you love God enough, and really trust Him enough, and give enough, than God will allow you to be healthy and wealthy. You will live like the kings that the Corinthians believed they were. Church, this is a direct lie from the enemy.

Paul now takes time to write about his condition. He actually describes several characteristics of himself and contrasts that to the Corinthians.

a. We are a Spectacle.

The imagery here was of a person brought into the arena and condemned to death. The idea here was that when a Roman general won a battle he would come into town leading his troops and behind them was the prisoners in chains. These prisoners were taken into the arena to fight the wild beasts. This is the spectacle that Paul is talking about here in verse 9. During the time of Paul Christians were mocked, they were ridiculed, spit upon, imprisoned, beaten, and treated like criminals. Paul mentions here that he was a spectacle to angels and men, to both the unseen world and the seen world.

b. We are fools for Christ sake.

Paul’s desire here is that the Corinthians would get their eyes and focus off of themselves and become humble. Paul knows that these Corinthians think that they are very wise. Sadly, they have gotten it all wrong. Paul wants this church to understand that it is better to receive the approval of Christ than the approval and recognition of the world. These Corinthians thought they were wise, strong, and distinguished but that was because of their pride.

c. We are sufferers.

Paul now goes on to share that he is weak. The Corinthians on the other hand saw themselves as strong and influential. Paul saw himself as insignificant. Remember what Paul said back in chapter one. “Not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Why? So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. Paul had discovered that his weakness in Christ had in fact become his strength to work hard for his God.

Here in verse 10 Paul mentions that even in this present hour we are in disrepute, we hunger, we thirst, are poorly dressed, and are even homeless. All of these things point to the lowest people in the society. Paul shows us that while the Corinthians were living like Kings, he and the other apostles suffered like slaves.

The word disrepute here means dishonored. Leon Morris comments here that sometimes this word meant “deprived of citizenship.” In this world church we as believers are just sojourners, we are just pilgrims without a home passing through on to a much better home. May we all be reminded of this today.

Paul also takes time here to address the fact that the apostles were often hungry, thirsty and poorly clothed. All of this shows us that having an abundance of the necessities of life was not their experience. Now of course we must have some of these things to survive, but it shows us that Paul and the other apostles didn’t have the culturally convenient things in this life. We are reminded here that even Christ said that He had nowhere to call home in Matthew eight and verse 20.

4. Notice that we are to respond in a godly manner even when we face ungodly treatment.

1 Corinthians 4:12–13 ESV

12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

In these final verses we learn about several difficult treatments and how we should respond in a godly manner. Paul tells us here that when we are reviled we are to bless others. This was the example that the Lord gave us in Luke 6.

Luke 6:28 ESV

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

If you know Jesus today as your Savior, if you have been changed by Christ than each and every believer should respond this way. Paul now moves on to those who are persecuted. Paul tells us plainly here that if you are going through persecution, we endure it. In other words Christian, you don’t throw in the towel, you don’t drop out of the race and quit. No! You keep going, you persevere, you refuse to stop serving your Lord until He calls you home. These apostles were constantly attacked, mocked, and even persecuted and yet they endured.

Next, Paul shares with us that when slandered we are to respond graciously. Now this may be one of the most difficult things to do, because we have the tendency to what to get back at someone who says something mean to us. Church, please here me today. Yes, this world may say all kinds of hurtful things about us or even about other believers, but we cannot play into their game. Watch what you say and how you respond even on social media. A kind word, a soft answer, should always be what those who revile us here out of our lips.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Paul sums this up by explaining to us that the world will see us Christians as scum and garbage. These two words go hand in hand together. Neither one is a pretty picture. But, why does the world see Christians this way? When we as Christians begin to teach and share the good news of Jesus with others and tell them to turn from their sin, the world takes great offense at this. Satan is the god of this world and those who are part of his kingdom hate the light of the good news of Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

MacArthur points out here that the most degraded criminals in society, who often were sacrificed in pagan ceremonies were viewed this way, and this is how the world looked at the apostles and other believers as scum and garbage.

Conclusion: Church, please here me this morning. As believers we are not the scum or garbage in God’s sight because we are His servants, however we have no reason whatsoever to be conceited or prideful as we journey through this life.

Illustration: The missionary Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) was a wonderful and faithful missionary to India. She built an incredible orphanage and rescued little girls from lives of prostitution and much difficulty. She herself suffered from neuralgia, a disease of the nerves, that greatly weakened her body. After she was injured from a severe fall in 1931 she was bedridden for the last 20 years of her life. Still, she labored on and endured the hardships of missions ministry until she went to be with her Savior at the age of 83. How did she think of her life as a servant of Christ? Here is how she summed it all up. She said, “Don’t be surprised if there is an attack on your life, your work, and on your innermost nature, the hidden person of the heart. The great thing is not to be surprised, nor to count it strange. Why? Because that plays into the hand of the enemy. Is it possible that anyone should set himself to exalt our beloved Lord and not instantly become a great target from many arrows?”

Church don’t be surprised at the attacks you may face. Draw near to God and ask Him to give you the strength and wisdom to keep your eyes, heart, and mind focused on Him. Don’t walk in pride, remain humble and persevere.

Luke 14:11 ESV

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

(Close in Prayer)