PAUL - A SINGLE PARENT

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

In verses eight through thirteen, Paul indicates that, although the apostles were rich in a spiritual sense, they were poor in the physical blessings of life here on earth. The Christians at Corinth, Paul says, live as kings compared to himself and the other apostles of Christ. In order to accomplish the will of God; to introduce, preach, and establish the kingdom of Christ, His church; and through it, bring to light God's eternal plan of salvation, the apostles became the lowest of servants. In the amount of physical rewards received, this band of apostles, the initial preachers of God's word, came in last. For Christ's sake, they were made to appear in the eyes of the world, according to these previous verses, as fools, ...weak, ...despised. They endured hunger, ...thirst; they were naked, ...(and were) buffeted, and (without a) ...dwelling-place. They labored hard with their own hands. They were reviled, ...persecuted, ...defamed, ...(treated) as the filth of the world, and considered to be ...the off scouring of all things. Although the church of Christ was firmly planted, and many received Jesus as their Savior, through the efforts of the apostles and other inspired disciples of Christ, yet the majority of the world considered them as Paul described in the passages noted above.

Then in verse 14, the first verse of the lesson text, Paul tells the Corinthian brethren that he did not make this comparison between them and himself in order to humiliate them, but rather to warn them, to give great diligence about whom they followed. It is evident from previous portions of this letter that many in the body of Christ at Corinth were easily swayed by the oratorical ability of a preacher rather that the doctrine he professed in his teaching. Paul emphasized this by writing for though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers. Here, Paul teaches a great lesson to the children of God at Corinth, as well as to all people throughout the world today. A true, faithful minister of God's word will consider his audience with the same love as a father does his sons and daughters. Preachers having this loving concern for those they are teaching, are truly interested in the spiritual welfare of each within their hearing. What loving father does not want the best, most godly spiritual instruction for their family? What caring father would deny the truths of God's holy word to their children?

Paul tells us that there are ten thousand instructors in Christ, that is, preachers without number, that are preaching the gospel of Christ for the wrong reasons; that are preaching for worldly gain and the acclaim of their audiences. Covetous preachers may, at times, even teach the truths found in God's word. However, these truths will be compromised any time selfish motives are jeopardized. These preachers do not want you, but what you have. Your spiritual welfare is not their motive; they are driven by their own personal, physical welfare. We should never forget that Satan, himself, has the ability to quote God's word - but what is his motive?

Indeed, the Christians at Corinth, Paul considered being his children. Not only was Paul instrumental in their conversion from false doctrines to the gospel of Christ, but, he also sincerely desired that they recognize the existence of false, covetous preachers. And, as any true, loving father would be, he was warning them not to be swayed by such false preachers. This particular lesson Paul closes with these words: wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Previously, in this letter, Paul admonishes them not to accept the preaching of God's word based on the preacher that delivered the message. For in doing so, factions would be created in the body of Christ that would result in envying, and strife, and divisions (See 1 Cor. 3). Even though Paul tells them to be ye followers of me, he most certainly does not mean that they should follow him because of his person attributes. Notice how he clarifies this a little later in this letter by telling these Christians at Corinth to be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

They were to only follow Paul because he was following Christ. This is the instruction that should be universally heeded by all people, that have an open and receptive hearts, and are truly searching for the hope of eternal salvation. Yes, the world needs preachers, but to follow their teaching, one must determine that the preacher is following Jesus Christ. It is true, Paul was unmarried, but he was a single-parent having many children, such as those at Corinth. It is also true that Paul was a good father. He cared for his children, as a true father should. He wanted them to follow him as he followed Jesus. He wanted them to enjoy the hope of eternal salvation through his Heavenly Father and his Master, Jesus Christ.