Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 9Sample

Today we are focusing on 1 Corinthians 4. Specifically, 1 Corinthians 4:4:

“My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

Paul describes himself as a steward of God's revealed mysteries. This is a servant managing something he does not own. That's why a steward has to be faithful and a person of high integrity.

Paul insists that he does not worry about people's opinions of his faithfulness. It's not that he is arrogant. In fact, he says in the previous verse that he doesn't judge himself. What he is trying to say is that the only opinion that should matter to a servant is his master's opinion. In other words, we do not live from the opinion of man but from His opinion. We are steadfast in our identity, sons and daughters of Him. It does not mean Paul is not aware of the fact that he needs to test himself. In His opinion, He doesn’t lack integrity and carries out his duties well.

The key takeaway is that we do not live from the opinion or premise of the people around us. The only important opinion is that of God. We are declared righteous, part of a completed work.

Let us ask ourselves the question: Do we live our lives according to His opinion of our lives that states we are His sons and daughters, part of the completed work of Christ, declared righteous, or do we live from the opinion of the world?