“Spotlight On A Bible Verse: I Corinthians 4:6”

Sunday, March 12, 2017

            And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you “be puffed up for one against another.” Respect for others can develop into something sinful if we are not careful. In I Corinthians, as well as Romans 12:3, Paul warns against thinking of men above what is Scripturally allowed. In the case of the Corinthians, they placed undue importance upon who baptized them (I Cor. 1:11-17, 3:3-7). Paul said they were acting like babes in Christ rather than the mature Christians that they needed to be. While we may think highly of certain brethren, or family members, and the like, we must never think of them as sinless, without flaws, or somehow above what God has described in Scripture. Our association with them does not make us better than others. Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? What about any other apostle or evangelist? Even now, we may think of a “favorite” preacher, or a “favorite” Christian we respect highly. Regardless of past achievements, they were, and are, simply ministers or servants, acting so as to carry God’s word to the lost (I Cor. 3:5-8; I Pet. 4:11). No one in such a position deserves undue credit or praise. They are not equal to God. Their word is not “law.” While we may respect people who make various sacrifices in the Lord’s work, including those who brought us to the Lord, let us never place men in a position of importance that they do not deserve.

– Jarrod Jacobs

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