Whose Approval Do You Need?
1 CORINTHIANS 4: 1-21
(August 8, 2022)
Approval is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the belief that someone or something is good or acceptable.
That is how we all want to be seen, right? As good and acceptable? No wonder we spend so much time seeking the approval of others, doing whatever we need to do to make sure we are accepted by this group or that crowd...
It starts when we are young, seeking validation from our parents, teachers, and friends. As we become a little older, peer pressure can cause us to do things we normally wouldn't do ... all because we want the approval of our friends.
As we mature, that need for approval extends to our adult friendships, our work environment, our social situations, even in our churches.
It seems we spend a good chunk of our lives seeking out approval from others. If our minds thought the Paul's did, we would not be wasting our minutes, hours and days on this foolishness. Instead, we would be focused solely on gaining the approval of God.
Many of the Corinthia believers had been rejecting the teachings and authority of Paul. Paul decides to assert his authority to them, while also reminding them of his status as a "steward" to God (meaning he was the servant God had entrusted to take care of his business).
Paul knew he did not have their approval. He chose to ignore that fact. He had no fear about their judgement of him, just as he held no judgement for others. Paul made it clear that the only judgement he was concerned about was God's.
Not only were the Corinthians judging Paul, but they were also judging each other. Each was using their spiritual gifts to gain their own personal approval from others. It was an "all about me" situation. These believers were filled with arrogance and an over-indulged sense of self-worth that really left no room for valuing the Lord.
And although the humiliated Paul at every turn, he still appealed to them in an effort to unify the church. He showed his special affection for these people by describing his special relationship to them all.
"For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So, I urge you to imitate me." (Verse 15)
By calling himself their father, what he really meant was that he was the founder of their church. Because of this, he could be trusted to have the church's best interests at heart. And while he may have been speaking a little strictly to them, his words were backed by a motivation of love, much like a father who has to discipline a child.
He was telling them "Be like me." He didn't say this because he was arrogant and sure of himself. In fact, he often was not. He said this because he had a close walk with Christ, filled his heart with the Word, spent much time in prayer, and experienced the presence of Christ in his life at all times. He wanted to be the example to them of how Christians should live their lives. He wanted them to put their focus on living a life that God would approve of, not themselves or others.
To be sure they worked at this, he sent Timothy to life out his example to them. Timothy had been taught by Paul, and now Paul could use him to teach others.
Paul finishes up this part of his letter by reminding them that he is doing his best to return for a visit with them. He really wants to see if they are "all talk" or truly sincere about their beliefs. He reminds them that the Kingdom of God is the true seeking of a life worthy of God's approval, not just a bunch of gibberish coming out of someone's mouth.
Which would THEY choose? To live by their arrogant words or to live in a manner in which God would approve?
Which do you choose? The easy choice is worldly arrogance and big talk. The more difficult, yet far more rewarding, choice is to live a life that follows the example of Paul, glorifying God and demonstrating the love of Jesus. That is the choice that will gain you the only approval you need ... God's.