Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to
you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not
the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. For the kingdom of God is
not a matter of talk but of power.
One of the easiest things we can do is to run our mouths. I
certainly have been guilty of speaking when I ought to have been listening.
Paul is admonishing the Church in Corinth for tolerating arrogant and boastful
people. They also are overlooking grievous sin in their church. This seems to
me to reflect the contemporary church in our current cultural climate. It would
seem to me that many are more concerned about expressing their opinion than
they are about personal holiness. In this environment we talk past each other
and ignore the moral decay that is in our own house.
So often this arrogant talk leads us to attack others for
their short comings. However, we come up short at looking at our own faults and
sins. There is a reason God says Proverbs 16:18
“Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” The
spirit of pride does not for a moment look in the mirror. It is persistently
looking for ways to tear down others. Dear friends this is not God’s way.
What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in
love and a spirit of gentleness?
When the prideful and arrogant do not listen, you can be
sure that the rod is coming. However, God does not start there. It is in love
and with a spirit of gentleness that Paul is offering correction. The power of
the rod is fear, judgement, and shame. The power of wisdom is love and
gentleness (James
3:13). So, Paul is saying how do you want your correction? Harsh or gentle?
I’ll choose loving gentleness thank you!
So how might this apply to us in our interactions with
others? First, we need to make sure that our pride is not the reason we are
running our mouths. Remember Jesus loathes self-righteousness (Matthew 23:28).
Second, we need the power of God’s love to operate in gentleness. Next, with
our hearts right before God then and only then will correction come from a
sanctifying place. Finally, all correction is done to restore a person (Galatians 6:1-2).
One of the clearest ways to tell the difference between Godly versus arrogant
correction is on this point. If the apparent goal is to tear down then it is
from pride. If the heart is to restore then it is from love.
Dear friends let’s us build one another up in love. Let us
offer correction in humility and gentleness. Let us inspire one another to good
works of love and righteousness.
God Bless You
~BJ
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