February 7, 2011 – 1 Corinthians 4-5

4:7 – We have received everything we have.  How can we boast as if it were not received, as if it were something that we have done on our own.  Where does the credit go when something goes great.  If it is not to God, it is misdirected.  Who does an atheist thank for his good health.  Is that something that he achieved on his own.  I agree there are things a person can do to stay healthy, but that isn’t enough on its own to give you good health.  Lance Armstrong had cancer.  People get sick.  Do you really think good health is all your doing. 

4:15 – I have heard the argument that the Bible says to call no man father, so we shouldn’t call priest father or the pope Holy Father.  But here Paul is saying that he became like a father to them a father in Christ.  That leads me to believe that they called him father.  Was Paul teaching against the Scriptures.  No.  Call no man father is referring to the idea that we have one God and no one is to be put on that level.  We have only one Father in Heaven.  That teaching is about who we worship, not about titles we give people.

4:16 – Many things are said about statues of saints in churches and how our focus should be on God alone.  That isn’t what Paul is saying here.  He doesn’t say be imitators of Christ, although I think he would tell us that we should try and do that as well.  He says be imitators of me, because he knew he was trying to live a holy life.  We can look to the saints as role models in their lives and that they tried to live for the Lord in everything they did.  It is good to have those reminders of how to live life.  Christ is at the focal point and that is our goal, the saints help us get there, point us towards that goal.  Paul doesn’t seem to be opposed to looking as people other than Christ as role models because he tells us to look at him.