Judging People Isn’t Your Job
1Think of me and Apollos as the Messiah’s workers, assigned to tell people about the mysteries of God. 2You have to be trustworthy to get a job like this. 3So as far as I’m concerned, it’s no big deal that you or any other folks would judge me. I don’t trust your judgment about that any more than I trust my own. 4I’ve got a clear conscience, but that doesn’t clear me of anything. It’s the Lord who judges me.5So stop passing judgment on people. Wait until the Lord comes back. He’ll shine a light into the dark corners, revealing the true motives. And he’ll praise all the folks who deserve a kind word. 6I want you to know, dear family, that what I just said also applies to me and Apollos. Follow our example in the way we practice what I’ve just preached. That way you won’t proudly pick one leader over another. [1] 7Tell me, what makes you better than anyone else? What do you have in your life that wasn’t given to you? [2] And since it was given to you, why are you bragging as though it wasn’t given to you?
You Are So Much Better than We Are
8So there you are with everything you need, rich and reigning like kings—with no need of us. I wish you were reigning. Then we would be reigning too. 9It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display. Of all the prisoners doomed to die in a spectacle watched by angels and humans alike, we apostles have been saved for last—as the grand finale. 10We are fools in the way we serve the Messiah, but you are wise in the ways of the Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. We are disgraced, but you are honored.11Even as I write these words, we’re hungry and thirsty. We don’t have adequate clothing. We’re treated roughly. We have no place to call home. 12We work ourselves to exhaustion, in the manual labor that we do. When we are treated meanly, we treat kindly. When persecuted, we suffer through it. 13When bad-mouthed, we respond with good words. In a way, the world has taken us out with the trash. They treat us like garbage.
This Isn’t “Shame on You”
14I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed. I’m trying to give you some instruction, as a father would to his dear children. 15You have countless people teaching you about the Messiah. But you don’t have countless fathers. I became your father when I brought the good news to you and introduced you to Jesus the Messiah. 16Please, follow my example. 17I sent Timothy to remind you about how to do this. He’s my dear and devoted child in the Lord. He’ll tell you how I live my life devoted to Jesus the Messiah. I teach that lifestyle wherever I go, to churches everywhere.I’ll Be Back, Lord Willing
18Some of you grew a big head—as though you think I’m never coming back and you’re never going to have to deal with me again. 19I’m coming soon, if it’s okay with the Lord. I’ll find out if these arrogant people have the power of God. I don’t care if they have the power to blow words out of their mouth.20God’s kingdom isn’t talk. It’s power. 21What do you want me to bring when I come back? A club to knock some sense into you? Or a gentle spirit to show you some love?
