Seriously, I would rather be in the company of the Apostles than those who claim they are kings. I'm so reminded of the huge gap between missionaries in countries where sharing their faith can get them killed and those who claim to have God on lock because the are rich and prosperous when I read I Corinthians 4. Instead of giving thanks and recognition to the God whom they received everything from, the Corinthians were boasting as though they could gain it all on their own.

I love Paul's sarcasm in verses 8-13. Just take a read:

8Already 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! 9For 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. 11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Can you picture this same letter being written from a missionary on mission where he knows he could lose his life for sharing his faith to the average televangelist or “self-help” preacher who claims your best life should be now? Think about it. All these preachers who claim that believers should be rich and without problems are just like the people in the church at Corinth. Who should we really be like? Should we follow Paul's example or the example of the Corinthians? Should we be willing to be made a spectacle of and looked at as fools for Christ's sake or should we be more concerned about how comfortable WE are? Paul answers that question in verse 16 when he says, “Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

So how willing are we to give up our comfort? How willing am I to suffer for His glory? Are we really just concerned with how much we can get away with or do we focus on what we can do to bring glory to God? We say we would suffer but when the smallest thing comes up we complain about how bad things are. “My day is so bad because I didn't get my coffee this morning.” “I didn't get to go to my friend's house today...life is so boring!” “My iPhone isn't working right.” Seriously – I am so guilty of this attitude myself sometimes. Then I read about Paul and I am reminded of how much suffering and persecution and slander and brutal treatment I could be taking and I wonder if I am missing out on something with the life I have. Am I too blessed for my own good, even through all my trials? Lord, let them call me scum for your name's sake!