I Corinthians 4:1-5
Introduction
These four dimensions of you, when put together, tell the whole story of who you are.
This week’s Cross Examine: Who am I living to please? Whose judgment or opinion of me really matters?
- My PUBLIC self: Who you think I am
- In Corinth, promotion of the public self was a way of life, and the term for it was boasting.
- Paul’s response: “I care very little what you think about me.” v. 3
- Paul’s strategy: Die to (your public) self.
- Criticism is inevitable
- Paul’s description of his life: (4:10-13)
Don’t let your critic be your judge.
- My PRIVATE self: Who I think I am.
- It’s the “me” I don’t want anyone else to see.
Strategy: Reveal the Private Self – Stop hiding!
We can only be loved to the extent that we’re actually known
- Do not indulge the desire to look better than you actually are. (4:6)
- My REAL self: Who God knows I am.
- There is a gap between my private self (the person I think am) and my real self.
- Pop Psychology vs Reality
- Paul’s Strategy: Ask God to reveal the truth about me to myself. (Ps. 139:23,24)
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. (Psalm 19:12)
- My GLORY self: Who God wants me to become (I Cor 3:18)
- Everyone has a “glory” self.
- The human temptation: replacing God “You will be like God.” (Gen 3:5)
- Paul’s strategy: Desire becoming the person God wants you to be above all else.
