"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgement; yea I judge not mine own self - 1 Cor:4.3
Paul inststs that he is not unduly upset by the criticisms of men. I have no doubt that he listened to them, as we must, and he had many detractors. But men were not his judges: he was not even his own judge.
For even though he had nothing on his own conscience, and knew nothing against himself (v4) this did not mean that he was necessarily guiltless. But his judge was neither men nor himself, but Jesus, his LOrd and God, whose underling he was.
This is a great comfort. We should be less hurt by the criticisms of men if we remembered that we are servants of Jesus, and He is our Master and our Judge. But although this is a great comfort, it is also a great challenge; because if we are not responsible to men, and need not mind thir criticisms, we are responsible to Christ, and we must be deeply concerned about His criticism. He is our Master.
No low standards or shoddy work can be tolerated. He is judging us now: 'He that is judging me is the LOrd 1 Cor 4:4. He is going to judge me when He comes, "Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes: and when He comes, on that day He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness".....1 Cor 4:5
And He will expose not just our work - that will be tested by fire - but the very hidden motives and councels and purposes of our hearts. How then can we grow slack or slovenly....if we have such a judge?
Paul inststs that he is not unduly upset by the criticisms of men. I have no doubt that he listened to them, as we must, and he had many detractors. But men were not his judges: he was not even his own judge.
For even though he had nothing on his own conscience, and knew nothing against himself (v4) this did not mean that he was necessarily guiltless. But his judge was neither men nor himself, but Jesus, his LOrd and God, whose underling he was.
This is a great comfort. We should be less hurt by the criticisms of men if we remembered that we are servants of Jesus, and He is our Master and our Judge. But although this is a great comfort, it is also a great challenge; because if we are not responsible to men, and need not mind thir criticisms, we are responsible to Christ, and we must be deeply concerned about His criticism. He is our Master.
No low standards or shoddy work can be tolerated. He is judging us now: 'He that is judging me is the LOrd 1 Cor 4:4. He is going to judge me when He comes, "Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes: and when He comes, on that day He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness".....1 Cor 4:5
And He will expose not just our work - that will be tested by fire - but the very hidden motives and councels and purposes of our hearts. How then can we grow slack or slovenly....if we have such a judge?
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