Paul
the apostle shared how “it is
required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” as
he “ministered” in the “gospel of
Jesus Christ”,
and in chapter four and verse three of
First Corinthians, Paul told the church members,
“it is a very small thing that I
should be judged of you”
where we read:
But
with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you,
or of
man's judgment: yes, I judge not mine own self.
The verse begins, “But
with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you,...”
Paul began
with the word, “But” which
is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “with
me” or
“with Paul” “it is a very small
thing”
which means “it is the least moment, importance, authority,
estimation, rank or excellence” “that
I should be judged”
which means “that Paul would be examined, investigated, enquired
into, scrutinized, sifted and questioned” “of
you” which
refers to the Corinthian church members. Paul did not think it any
big deal to be “examined or questioned” by the Corinthian church
members.
The
verse goes on to say, “...or
of man's judgment: yes, I judge not mine own self”.
Paul
continued with the words, “or of
man's” which
means “or by any person whether male or female” “judgment”
which is the
Greek word “hēmera”
that means “the natural day or the interval between sunrise and
sunset as distinguished from and contrasted with the night such as a
day of judgment”: “yes”
which means “nevertheless and notwithstanding”, “I
judge” or
“Paul examined, investigated, enquired into, scrutinized, sifted
and questioned” “not mine own self”
which means “Paul did not examine or scrutinize himself”. Paul
did not consider it valuable to be “judged”
by “himself” or any other “man's judgment”.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we note the confidence he had
in his relationship with God. He was not concerned about the
“judgment” he might receive from people, and he gave no
regard to his own personal evaluation of himself. Those who have a
relationship with Jesus Christ need only to be concerned with his
“exam and scrutinization”, and though people are prone to judge,
we should allow our relationship with God to be the only judgment to
which we have awe and respect.
Next
time Paul declares, “I know
nothing by myself” and
how “he that judges me is
the Lord”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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