The Cost of Service

Series on I Corinthians

VIII Material Concerns

B Growing, Text: 16:5-18

Title: The Cost of Service

Introduction

In this concluding postscript to his letter the apostle Paul is encouraging growth and maturity. These are not simply scattered comments. Through these words we get a clearer picture of this servant of the Lord and his objectives. In this passage Paul reveals by personal example a selfless devotion to the work of the Lord. Called and committed, he gives a mandate to the immature Christians in the church at Corinth which reminds them of how they ought to emulate Paul in their behavior. We are therefore going to consider two things. First the concern of Paul to promote the work of the Lord, and second, the commands of Paul to promote the work of the Lord.

I The Concern to Promote the Work of the Lord

The apostle Paul has dealt with a number of problems in the church at Corinth, not the least of which is their distrust of his authority as an Apostle. In other words he was persona non grata in Corinth; the situation was unfriendly. Many of us would back off from that, but Paul was called to be an Apostle by the will of God, and he preached the message of Christ crucified, and he was not about to back down. He served in the face of obstacles. Dealing with difficult situations requires first of all that we know who has called us and be committed. So although Paul wants to help the Corinthian Christians, he also wants them to know that he is to please the Lord above all. In the Lord’s servant there is a strange combination of selfless duty and sacred trust. This is reflected in all of the concerns that he expresses here.

A Personal Loss and Trust in the Lord’s Timetable

First he tells them in verses 5-9 how much he wants to visit them, not in the manner of just passing through but so that he can spend some time with them, After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you-for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. He saw a need and wanted to help. However, he quickly adds that he is the servant of the Lord directed by the providence of God. There is an opportunity in Ephesus which cannot be ignored. Paul spent a great deal of time there because of this opportunity. Rather than think of themselves the Corinthians are warned to think of others and their pressing needs, as Paul did. Personal desires must bow to the providential guidance of God even though the course may be harder and the opposition greater. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “If God sends us on stony paths, he provides strong shoes.

B Personal Loss and Trust in the Lord’s Power

Secondly he expresses his concern by sending Timothy and he bestows upon Timothy the mantle of his authority and the expression of his confidence in verses 10 and 11, If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. Yet the favor of sending Timothy is accompanied by a warning. Timothy was not like Paul. He could be intimidated. He was young and he had a natural disposition unlike the Apostle’s. It was a handicap. So Paul says don’t make him afraid, Don’t refuse to accept him, and take care of him, for that’s what I’m expecting. All the church needed to do was to trust the Lord as Paul did. When I am weak, then I am strong. George Matheson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1842. Before he reached the age of two, his eyesight was declining. Despite every effort to help, before George had finished his course at Glasgow University he was completely blind, but he graduated with honors in philosophy, studied for the ministry, became the minister of one of the largest churches in Edinburgh. In addition to his laborious preparation of his services he visited, and wrote numerous articles and twelve books. He too was handicapped but that did not stop God, and after twenty years of blindness he wrote the beloved hymn: “O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee! I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.”

C Personal Loss and Trust in the Lord’s Will

Thirdly in verse 12 we discover that Paul has strongly urged Apollos to come see them, Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. This was probably something that a number of people at Corinth wanted very badly. Apollos had his followers there, but does Paul show any jealousy of Apollos? No! Is Paul afraid that it will complicate the situation? No! If Apollos does not come, that is his own decision. Paul and Apollos are unified which is more than you can say for the believers at Corinth. Michelangelo, the sculptor, and Raphael, the painter, were commissioned to execute works of art for the beautification of the Vatican. Although each was highly skilled and respected, there was such a bitter spirit of rivalry between them that they would not even speak when they met. The most amazing part of it all was that both were supposed to be doing their work “for the glory of God.” Shakespeare wrote, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eye’d monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” Paul was aware that jealousy would destroy the work of God by mocking the very gospel they preached. Paul’s concern for the progress of the gospel was shown in a firm reliance in his God, a commitment to endure opposition, and a marvelous unselfishness. The Corinthians, on the other hand, seem to demonstrate a great propensity for self interest. They are acting childishly as he says in Chapter 3. People have a tendency to back away from difficult situations because they are not clear about their calling from God and are also selfish. We don’t want the grief. Paul doesn’t give us that kind of example because Jesus didn’t give us such an example, as in Philippians 2:5-8, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Paul’s admonitions to the church are to the same point. These simple homely truths about Paul express the servanthood of Christ in Paul’s attitude. They apply equally to ministers or laymen.

II The Commands to Promote the Work of the Lord v.13-18.

There are a series of commands in verses 13-18, and all of these address spiritual immaturity, Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. These commands reveal a lack of trust and a lack of sacrifice in the Corinthian believers. Remember Paul said to them in Chapter 14, In malice be children but in understanding be men. The language here in verses 13 and 14 is describing an army in position and ready for battle. Soldiers need to watch. They need to stand firm. They must act like men and be strong. The words are opposed to effeminacy and weakness. They must also have ideals; they must love their country. They must be patriots. The Corinthian Christians were like chocolate soldiers who melt in the heat of battle, and are not really serious about the Christian life. No work was getting done because they were worried over whether their uniforms were pressed or their medals were on straight, and more concerned with their own preferences than the Church which Jesus bought with his own precious blood. This is further revealed in their attitude toward the household of Stephanas who was Paul’s first convert in this region, and an able and willing worker for the Lord. His household did not receive the proper recognition because of the selfishness of many people in that church. Paul says submit to people like this, and follow their example. They help others. They help me. They do not spend their time worrying about their image, or their unimportant preferences, or criticizing while they avoid involvement. I went to my first hockey game at the invitation of my son-in-law. We sat in two different places because we didn’t find the right seats at first. In both places i heard people behind us who were the world’s greatest experts on hockey. No coach or player did anything right. They demeaned and insulted them endlessly. All i wanted to say to them was get out of the stands and on to the ice. Everybody complains, but it was just that these Corinthians didn’t respect the fact that others were out doing the job. These Christians didn’t respect age or experience, or service. What kind of people do that? People who always think they’re right?

Conclusion

The apostle Paul could easily, have said, “I don’t get no respect,” and could have washed his hands of this situation. Instead he dove in with a zeal for the Church of Christ. He demonstrated the unselfishness of Christ and the courage of his calling. We need to do the same thing in our relationships with one another and with the people outside the Church.