I Don't Care What You Think About Me!

This is my sermon manuscript from June 14, 2009. I am teaching through 1 Corinthians. This is part 8. I will post the other parts if people are interested.

I. Introduction

We live in a society that puts a lot of weight on what other people think. This is a pattern amongst Christians and non-Christians alike. I want to share an excerpt of a sermon with you that was preached by John Piper back in May, 2000:

Three weeks ago we got word at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards had both been killed in Cameroon. Ruby was over 80. Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: To make Jesus Christ known among the unreached, the poor, and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing 80 years old, and serving at Ruby's side in Cameroon. The brakes failed, the car went over the cliff, and they were both killed instantly. And I asked my people: was that a tragedy? Two lives, driven by one great vision, spent in unheralded service to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ—two decades after almost all their American counterparts have retired to throw their lives away on trifles in Florida or New Mexico. No. That is not a tragedy. That is a glory.

I tell you what a tragedy is. I'll read to you from Reader's Digest (Feb. 2000, p. 98) what a tragedy is: "Bob and Penny... took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells." The American Dream: come to the end of your life - your one and only life - and let the last great work before you give an account to your Creator, be "I collected shells. See my shells." THAT is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get forty minutes to plead with you: don't buy it.

Don't waste your life. It is so short and so precious. I grew up in a home where my father spent himself as an evangelist to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. He had one consuming vision: Preach the gospel. There was a plaque in our kitchen for all my growing up years. Now it hangs in our living room. I have looked at it almost daily for about 48 years. It says, "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

These are just some examples of how our society is so concerned about what others think about them. The world would say that Ruby and Laura’s fate was a tragedy because those poor women never married and experienced the joy of having a family. The world would say that Bob and Penny were wise, prudent stewards of their money and they earned the right to enjoy their retirement.

Seeking approval of men is a characteristic of many evangelical teachers, as well. They seek to write books and preach sermons that will make them well thought of, not only in the evangelical community, but in the secular community, as well. Books that don’t deal with sin, the cross, or any biblical commands at all for that matter, rather they write books that line up with secular science and medicine. And, aside from a few mentions of God, and if you get a “good” one it may mention Jesus, it would be hard to tell apart the philosophies of these books and ones written by secular authors.

If the Apostle Paul were alive today, I doubt that he would be capable of writing a book that is popular and widely accepted in our society. One of the reasons that I believe this is because the Apostle was so consumed with what pleased God rather than with what pleased men. He was not about to give in to worldly wisdom, in fact, he would rather be considered foolish. Therefore, his writings would not have been very popular today. And, in all honesty, they were not very popular in his day, either.

Let’s take a look at our passage for this morning:

1 Corinthians 3:18-4:5 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (20) and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (21) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, (23) and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. (4:1) This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (3) But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. (5) Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

In our effort to keep context at the forefront of our minds we must remember that Paul is now in the middle of his closing arguments, if you will, in regards to the issue of divisions. He addressed their misunderstanding of the Gospel and how they were hindering the spreading of said gospel. They had placed the foundation of their faith in the wisdom and eloquence of men. This, Paul said, was a merely human reaction; one that needed to be adjusted to a more godly reaction, namely, recognizing that, while Paul, Peter, Apollos and anyone else may plant or water, it is ultimately God who gives and causes the growth. Paul reminded the Corinthians that it is Jesus Christ who is the foundation of their faith. Therefore, they should not align themselves with a person, but rather they should be building upon the sure and solid foundation—Jesus Christ. Each one is to be vitally concerned about how they are building on the foundation that Paul laid. In probably one of the most shocking statements in the Bible, Paul said that the one who destroys God’s temple by causing division, will themselves be destroyed by God.

II. The proper view of people (3:18-23)

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (20) and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (21) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, (23) and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Paul was making the argument that much of the division that exists in the church is caused by two things.

1. Self-deception

The phrase “Let no one deceive himself” is a broad warning that includes everyone. We are all capable of self-deception. We deceive ourselves into believing many things. Contextually, Paul is warning the Corinthians about deceiving themselves into thinking they are wise. The problem, however, wasn’t so much in being wise, but it was their standard of wisdom; which brings us to the next thing that Paul said causes divisions.

2. Worldly wisdom

We all think that we are smarter than we really are. The problem is that we put too much weight on worldly wisdom. But as Paul said, the wisdom of this world is folly with God. Paul uses two quotes from the Old Testament. One from Job and one from the Psalms. Worldly wisdom means nothing to God. It is foolishness and futile.

Paul’s point, then, was to be sure that they were not boasting in men. Because the Corinthians have been given the mind of Christ (2:16) all things in regards to godly wisdom belong to the Corinthians, and to us, as well. There is nothing special about Paul’s wisdom, or Apollos’s wisdom, the wisdom they have belongs to the Corinthians, as well.

However, it is important to Paul to point out that while they possess the Corinthians have access to all things they belong to Christ. Christ belongs to God. Again, Paul brings all things back to God. Let’s never forget that.

III. The proper view of teachers (4:1-5)

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (3) But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. (5) Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Paul had been telling the Corinthians over and over for 3+ chapters now not to put their faith in and their trust in men. Don’t be of Peter, Paul, or Apollos. It seems that he anticipated that he had adequately convinced them of the folly of boasting in men and expected them to have a few questions—namely how should they regard Paul, Apollos and Peter? He answers their question in verse 1. They are servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

It is interesting to note that Paul’s purpose for pointing people to God (even here he is taking the focus off of men and putting it on Christ and God) is not to alleviate him or the other teachers of any burden or responsibility. Notice verse 2. It is REQUIRED of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Ministers of the gospel have been given a GREAT responsibility! Now, I could make a pretty solid case that we are all called to be ministers of the gospel in one way or another, but I believe contextually Paul is speaking of those who are primarily called to the studying and teaching of the Word. When Paul said, “This is how you should regard us” he is speaking about himself, Apollos and Peter. Those men that were called to be the shepherds and overseers of the flock at Corinth are the ones who have been given this responsibility. So keeping in mind that we are all ministers I will continue to address this issue in the context of modern day pastors and elders.

Pastors and elders have been entrusted with the great and glorious mysteries of almighty God! We are Christ’s servants. That is, we are servants of the One whom ultimately fulfilled and authored the very mysteries that we are stewards of. We belong to Him. It is our responsibility to declare the mysteries and explain the mysteries of God to those that do not fully understand them. Jesus said, “To whom much is given much will be required!” Luke 12:48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

To drive home the point of the weight of this responsibility Paul went on to remind the Corinthians who it is who judges him.

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. (5) Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Paul, Apollos, Peter and other pastors, teachers, and elders are thankfully not judged by any human court. The problem with human courts are that they are just that…human. Everyone has a different opinion and there is not any one standard of truth and no objective opinion. Paul basically said, “I don’t care what you think about me.” His main concern is that he was going to be judged by God.

I need to take a minute and explain something. When I title a message “I Don’t Care What You Think About Me!” I admittedly am doing that for a little bit of shock value. I am also trying to capture the essence of the passage with any title that I ever come up with. The chances of you remembering every little phrase and word of my sermons are slim, I mean I don’t even remember most of what I say! But if I can come up with a catchy title that sums up the essence of the passage chances are you will remember the main thrust of the passage. Also, when I say, “I don’t care what you think about me” I do not mean that in a humanistic sense. I am not saying that I’m going to do what I want and I don’t care what you think. Also, I don’t mean it in the sense that you cannot or should not try to correct me. I am not above correction or making mistakes. What I mean, and I believe what Paul meant by saying that it was a small thing to be judged by the Corinthians, is that ultimately my destiny does not depend on your opinion of me. My destiny rests on the way I handled my stewardship of the mysteries of God and on how I served my Master, Jesus Christ.

Mainly, the point is that a human court is unable, incapable and unqualified to judge a heavenly trial. The commission given to us is a divine one and one that can only be judged by a divine being. That is why Paul says that he does not even judge himself. He is incapable of passing a proper judgment, as well. He is not aware of anything against him but is not thereby acquitted. Over and over again in Paul’s writings he appealed to a clear conscience. There is something to be said for a clear conscience. But, he also understood that a clear conscience was not enough. You are not acquitted in your heavenly trial because you have a clear conscience.

The reason that a clear conscience is not enough is that there are things hidden by the darkness of our hearts. Look at verse 5:

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

Paul said the things that are hidden in darkness are the purposes of the heart. Notice the verse again, “…who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart.” We are unable to discern even the things in our own hearts. That is why it is impossible for us to judge even ourselves. Therefore, we are not acquitted by a clear conscience.

Is there anything about the last sentence of verse 5 that strikes you as odd? Paul has just said that wisdom is futile, teachers are mere servants and stewards, humans are not able to judge qualified to judge others, and we are not even qualified to judge ourselves. He has said that on the day the Lord comes He will bring to light the things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart—and then he writes a sentence that absolutely baffles me. “Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” After all of the negative stuff he said, I would expect a closing sentence to say, “Then each one will receive his condemnation from God.” But Paul said that we will receive a commendation! A reward—not judgment! Seems weird to me, but, it makes me very thankful to God for His grace and His mercy.

God understands the weaknesses and limitations of men. He understands that we are incapable of doing things right. Adam and Eve proved that. And so, ultimately it makes me thankful for that I have been given the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit that lives in each and everyone of us makes us capable of understanding the mysteries of God and gives us the power and ability to be wise and productive servants of Christ.