1 Corinthians 4:8, Full and Rich

1 Corinthians 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

In their self-sufficiency, the Corinthian Christians through the abundance of gifts and riches, have sidelined God’s servants. The Apostle Paul points out they have veered from their God-given mandate to honour God by side-tracking His appointed servants. And would do their own things by virtue of their self-sufficiency without taking any heed to God’s appointed leaders. The rich man had not faith to trust God to order his life without relying on his riches and the power that comes with it.

Like the church in Laodicea whom Jesus rebuked in Revelation 3:16-17 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

She is neither hot nor cold, in a state of self-delusion. It was going through the motions of piety. But sadly, there was no true piety. Yet, claiming herself pious, very much like the state of Israel during the time of Christ, the state of spiritual hypocrisy. If you expose them, they turn against you. Nevertheless, our Lord loves this church in Laodicea and sought her repentance, that they might to come back to Him, though the words may not be well received as did Jesus’s encounter with the Pharisees and Scribes. Material wealth was the Achilles heel of this church. They were secure “spiritually speaking” by virtue of their material security. Laodicea is a very wealthy city, a major banking centre, the likes of New York, Paris, Milan, Shanghai, Singapore.

Both the Corinthian and Laodicean church were materially prosperous. Material wealth was the Achilles heel of this church. They were secure “spiritually speaking” by virtue of their material security. Laodicea and Corinth are very wealthy cities, a major banking centre, the likes of New York, Paris, Milan, Shanghai and Singapore.

May God revive His church. Amen.