Thank you for the application question on I Corinthians 4:3, “1 Corinthians 4:3 …I judge not mine own self. What is this and how can I learn that?”
I Corinthians 4 says this, “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
The Apostle Paul is declaring is that he is not interested in people’s opinion of him. He is not swayed by the commendations or criticisms of him. The reason is that no person can know the heart and mind of another person except God. Quite often our perception of others is wrong or skewed. We make judgments based on appearance of the person or on the standing of the person in the community or in the church.
Paul also states that he can’t excuse himself for his actions or lack of actions. It is easy for oneself to be deceived and to think that one is doing “right” when one is actually doing wrong. Self-justification or self-rationalization is common by us.
Paul correctly states that it is the Lord who will look at his heart, mind, and spirit in his words and actions. It is God’s commendation or criticism that matters the most at the end. Thus, it is Paul’s desire to run his race to his very best for the Lord. He wants to have a clear conscience before God that he was obedient to the Lord.
How do we do this? By avoiding comparison or looking at others at what they are doing or not doing for the Lord. It’s not a matter of how much better we are of others or how shallow others may be in comparison to others. It’s not working for the praise of church leaders or even peers.
Each of us have a race to run. Don’t be shackle or carry baggage that will weigh us down in running our race. This is easier said than done for we do love the things of this world, however, the things of this world is not to captivate our heart, mind, and spirit.
Loving God and loving others is to be our goal in desiring that people come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. At the end of our lives, it is not how much money we have accumulated in life, that matters, but how we have used our resources and talents for the Lord. If we seek rich and fame in this world, we will be poor with little treasures in heaven.
Jesus said to his followers not to lay up treasure on earth but lay up treasures in heaven. When we stand before the Lord in receiving our rewards for service on earth, what do we want to hear from our Lord and what do we want to receive from him.
Summary: Let Jesus be the only one that you want to please in this life.
-Kingston