Solution to pride: True Wisdom, True Servant-leaders and True Discipleship

MHBPC Admin
6 days ago
18 min read

Date: 25 May 2025, 9.30 am

Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 3:18–4:21

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Blessed Sunday to everyone, both here in Henderson and those joining us online.

1 Cor 1:11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

1 Cor 3:3 For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

One of the key issues facing the Corinthian church in these first 4 chapters was the issue of division. There was pride and jealously amongst the followers of certain church leaders.

This issue is highlighted by Paul twice in the first 3 chapters.

This divisions are highlighted in chapter 1 and 3. And we see that it stems from them using the wisdom of the world, that of the natural man instead of the wisdom from God, that is provided by the Holy Spirit.

Mankind’s struggle with pride is a long seated problem. We inherited it from Adam and Eve.

Both of them gave in to the temptation of the Devil, to be like God knowing good and evil (Gen 3:5).

Meaning they wanted to be like God, to determine what is good and what is evil.

How serious is pride? May I give 2 examples recorded in the bible for our reference.

The first one is a pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar. Nebbie was the greatest king of the Babylonian empire and ruled between 605 BC to 562 BC.

Dan 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.

One day, Nebbie surveyed all of Babylon before him and said to himself, ‘Great job Me’. Immediately, he became like the beast of the field and he lost his mind and his rule.

Only after the predicted 7 periods of time had passed and after Nebbie lifted his eyes to heaven and blessed the Most High, giving God the rightful praise and honor, only then did his reason return and he was restored to his kingdom.

Does God only discipline leaders for their pride? No and the lives of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a grim reminder that God holds everyone to account.

Acts described the church in Jerusalem then, as of one heart and soul, no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

The bible then records there was not a needy person among them, for many who were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

I’m sure these sacrificial acts of generosity were publicly commended.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

This normal couple Ananias and Sapphira, wanted to be one of these generous folks and so they sold their land too. I submit they wanted to be held in high esteem by the congregation. They wanted to be seen as sacrificially generous.

But the pride in them, sought not just to gain praises from men, but at the same time to hide their greed. But God saw through their plans and discipline them for it. They both literally died for the praises of men.

Pride and worldly wisdom go hand in hand.

Thanks be to God that Scripture records all these for our benefit. That we see negative models and thus are warned in no uncertain terms on how not to live.

In today’s text, Paul is wrapping up his teaching on the division in the church based on church leaders.

And I submit for our consideration, that Paul says, the solution to such pride and jealously is when we understand true wisdom, when the church has true servant leaders and when we each walk in true discipleship.

True Wisdom (3:18-23)

Let’s take a look at 1 Cor 3:18-23.

1 Cor 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Paul had already compared the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God in chapter 2. He taught that the wisdom of God can only be obtained when we have the Spirit of God and that is something that all believers have.

And so here at the end of 1 Cor 3, he gives 3 commands to the Corinthians. This is thus what they must do as spiritual people.

The 3 commands start with the word ‘let’. The 2 ‘lets’ are found in v18 and the third one in v21.

Firstly, ‘Let no one deceive himself’. Self-deception is common to mankind.

Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us, the heart is deceitful above all else.

The Corinthians ironically think they are wise, but Paul says, you are filled with the wisdom of this age. It will pass away and it is foolishness in God’s sight.

Secondly, ‘Let him become a fool’. This means self-humility. Be humble, acknowledge that you are not wise, instead be a fool. Only then can you be teachable and learn from God.

Finally, ‘Let no one boast in men’. This I submit is self-effacement.

Remember we are all made of dust. So be unwilling to talk about your so-called strength and to draw dependence upon mankind.

To these commands, Paul gives 2 reasons why it is beneficial to obey them.

The first reason is found in v19, for the wisdom of this world is folly with God.

Where is true wisdom found, in the Cross of Calvary.

Paul goes on to say, God is able to see through the foolishness of the so called ‘wise’ of the world.

The truth is that their thoughts are ‘futile’. It means there is fruitlessness in all their plans and opinions.

The second reason is v21, for all things are yours.

Instead of the individualistic approach of saying something like ‘I am of Paul’, the Corinthians are told, ‘All things are yours’.

All things are for the benefit of God’s people, Christ is the head of the church and has given Himself up for her.

And Christ is God’s. Jesus is God’s Son and Messiah.

Status does not matter in the community for all of them belong equally to God and God has given everything in Christ Jesus.

The solution to pride, to jealously that fuels divisions is to pursue true wisdom by obeying these 3 commands and accepting the 2 reasons for doing so.

For all of us who are younger believers, with us given a good education, with all the advances in technology, are we self-deceived that the wisdom of the world is the most appropriate and relevant?

As we evaluate things in the church, as we evaluate leaders in the church, what kind of filters are we using? Would we be willing to use those of Scripture?

For all of us who are older believers. We have known how the wisdom of the world has failed us. Some of us have battle scars of church fights to prove it.

Would we today, encourage others by affirming that the 3 commands and the 2 reasons are indeed true wisdom?

Would we model this true wisdom in our speech, actions and attitudes towards others?

Today, let’s affirm that godly character is more important than worldly competence.

True Servant-leaders (4:1-7)

In 1 Cor 3:5, Paul says all of them, leaders in the church are servants. The word there is ‘diakonoi’. The same word that is also translated as deacon. It means a helper, an attendant or a waiter.

1 Cor 4:1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Now here in the first 7 verses of 1 Cor 4, he emphasizes again, what church leaders are to be.

They are to be servant-leaders. And when they are servant-leaders, it will solve the issue of pride, of jealously, of division.

The word ‘servant’ here in 1 Cor 4:1 is a different word from chapter 3. This word is ‘hyperetas’.

In those times, this type of servant was an under-rower, a galley slave on the lowest deck of an ancient ship. They have to pull their oars to the beat of the supervisor’s drum.

They were serving in menial, lowly humble service.

Church leaders are not just servants who wait upon others, they are also an under-rower, who pulls in the direction of his master and at the timing of the master’s drum.

An under-rower has to be a team player too. He can’t do his own stuff at his own time. An under-rower is also not seen, he serves below deck and is his contributions are only felt.

A Christian leader is to be an under-rower.

Besides being a servant, church leaders are also stewards of the mysteries of God.

A steward is a domestic slave who had been entrusted with the management of the resources of an ancient household or estate. Think of Joseph in Potiphar’s household.

As a servant is obedient to the timing and pace of the drum, a steward is to be trustworthy and faithful to the master’s assign task.

Christian leaders are stewards of the Mysteries of God. This we know refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So a steward is responsible to God to preach the Gospel, to feed the members of the household, to supply them with the resources of the Word of God for their nourishment and their provision.

I’m sure the Corinthians did not look at their leaders as servants and stewards. No, they looked at their leaders as rock stars and celebrities.

They wanted their leaders to have this exclusivity and that uniqueness.

Their yardstick of successful leadership must surely be wealth, fame, societal influence and charismatic traits.

Church, if however, we (both leaders and members) were to apply godly wisdom in our view of church leaders, I’m sure divisions, jealously and pride will be much reduced.

Paul then instructs on how assessment should be done.

Firstly 2 ways it should not be done. One, v3 public opinion. And secondly v4, private conscience.

We know that both are fickle , both are inaccurate, both are terrible yardsticks.

In the court of public opinion, they can either tear you down or put you on a pedestal.

In the court of private opinion, can be the same thing as well. We can be prideful and think too highly of ourselves or we can be prideful and express fake humility.

What counts, Paul says is v5, Divine Accountability.

1 Cor 3:12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Earlier in 1 Cor 3, Paul mentions the refining fire of God’s accountability. We are to build with gold, silver and precious stones and not with wood, hay and straw.

Here in v5, Scripture adds that this refining fire of God’s accountability will include the revealing of what is hidden in darkness and disclosure of the purposes of the heart.

We can fool the world, we can even fool ourselves, but we cannot fool God.

But even as Paul warns of the sternest test that God will administer, he tells all believers, look forward to receiving the commendation from God. He is Saviour and Lord.

Look forward to hearing God say “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.”

Against the Corinthain’s actions of pitting the camp of Paul against the camp of Apollos, Paul says, hey, look truly at what is going on between me and Apollos.

We are not competing, no, we are complementing each other’s ministry. We are all fellow servants and stewards of God.

Paul continues and advises, the antidote for pride is not going beyond what Scripture is saying.

You are attributing status, privileges and wisdom between camps of church leaders. And you think you are wise spiritually. You think that all the grace-gifts exhibited between the different camps elevate different people.

Paul says, that is thinking beyond the boundaries of Scripture. No, the Holy Spirit empowers based on His divine prerogative and all gifts are for the good of the body.

So, no, you are not to be arrogant and to favor one against another.

Are you any different Paul ask?

No, you are not. We are all the same. What you have, it has all been given as a gift to you. Thus, there is nothing each of us can boast.

Why, because we all have been given the same Spirit and empowered with the graces to serve the common body of Christ.

Now, many I feel have looked at v5 and say, others cannot judge me. Everything is between me and God. See, v5 gives me this permission to not be accountable to you.

These verses I submit are to highlight that God, the ultimate divine authority is our final and only important judge.

Don’t look for man’s applause, look for Divine approval.

However, we have already seen in 1 Cor 2 that we are to have the mind of Christ.

And that means to evaluate things with spiritual perspective and not like the natural man.

We can judge but judge theologically.

In the next chapter, 1 Cor 5, Paul admonishes them, you should be judging morally but are not.

Here even in 1 Cor 4, Paul is saying, look at him and Apollos and see that they act like servants and stewards of Christ.

Use them as a model to benchmark the way leaders are evaluated.

May I share one practical application that I received very early in ministry. This was given to me by a senior pastor of another BP church.

He told me, every new pastor that you call into Hermon, whether experienced or not, always start them off as Assistant Pastor for 1 term of 3 years.

Why, because pride will build up in the pastor who has gone straight into becoming Lead Pastor.

Elders - 1 Tim 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Deacons - 1 Tim 3:10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

And he shared this using the text from 1 Tim 3. And so he told me, the church always finds that there are expedient reasons for short-cutting the process, but God’s wisdom must prevailed.

Thus in our constitution, the guideline for ordaining an Elder is for him to have served at least 2 terms, or 6 years in total as a Deacon.

Church, hold the leaders accountable to such standards for it is based on the wisdom gleamed from Scripture.

What is the solution for pride, Scripture says, have true servant-leaders in the faith community.

So for those of us who are serving, serve circumspectly as servants and stewards.

Know that we will have to account to God for every action, thought and intention.

For those of us who are being served, pray that the church will hold to biblical standards, pray and plead with the Lord for His mercy and grace upon those who lead.

True Discipleship (4:8-21)

Finally, to drive home the point that there is a stark difference between what the natural man values and what the spiritual man values, Paul contrasts the apostles like himself with their church leaders.

We are to see blatant irony and a pinch of sarcasm in Paul’s voice as he addresses them.

1 Cor 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ

At the beginning of the letter, in 1 Cor 1:4-7, Paul tells us that visibly the Corinthian church was a super talented bunch of people. They were endowed with great speech and knowledge, they lack no gifting.

I’m sure some of them had high standing both in the church and in the society.

1 Cor 4:8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

With irony, Paul describes them as rich, reigning like kings, strong, held in honour.

When you have material wealth and societal reputation, it’s just the right breeding ground for jealously and bitterness.

This has been proven sufficient times by my observation of office politics and family conflicts.

In great contrast, from v9-13, Paul says, we apostles are the scum of the earth. We are like garbage.

They have been exhibited like men to be sentenced to death literally. They are weak, held in disrepute, they hunger and thirst, are poorly dressed and homeless.

To your nice manicured hands and fair skin, we apostles have to labour with our hands. See how rough they are, how the sun and wind have darked and weathered our faces.

I submit that Jesus’ words about the costs of discipleship is relevant here.

Mt 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Not only are our lives to be lived in direct contrast to that of the world, our responses are also to be so, so much different.

V12 – when reviled, we don’t curse, we bless instead. When persecuted, we don’t rebel, we endure. When slandered, we don’t demand, we entreat.

We do what is opposite to the natural man. The spiritual man knows that God is sovereign and trusts himself into God’s care and so he is able to follow His master.

Let’s read responsively a few verses from Isaiah 53. I’ll start in v4 and can you respond in v5.

Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Does not 1 Cor 4:12 correspond closely with Isaiah 53? And these verses are about Jesus and His cross.

See the spiritual man has the mind of Christ, he believes in Jesus and Him crucified. Thus the spiritual man will respond like Jesus.

1 Cor 4:14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Therefore, Paul says, imitate me. This is the way of the spiritual man, this is the way of someone who has the mind of Christ. This is what it means to live Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

So what resources did the Corinthians have to be true disciples?

Firstly, v6 says they have Scripture – do not go beyond what is written.

Secondly, they have the life of Paul to model after.

Thirdly, they will also get godly instructors like Timothy. Timothy will remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ. Paul’s lifestyle that is according to Christ.

And finally the fourth resource, is that they have mutual accountability. Paul was going to come to them and to see if they are living out Gospel reality not 1st century pagan desires.

The life of ease is what the world wants and what it considers a success.

There is a hymn, So Send I You. A hymn sometimes sung at a missionary’s commission or a commencement of ministry.

It’s a fitting hymn but I’m sure not woke at all today. The first stanza says:

So send I you to labour unrewarded

To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown

To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing

So send I you to toil for Me alone

Church, let’s never embrace a discipleship lifestyle that is not according to Scripture. The world will tell us differently, but that is where we have the resource of mutual accountability.

Where we point each other to Scripture and proclaim that we preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Conclusion

May I end with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. This is found in Luke 18.

The Pharisee would be those whom the Corinthians would hold in high regard. He was a religious elite, influential in the faith community.

In action, the Pharisee was near faultless with regards to the Mosaic law. He fast twice a week and give tithes of all that he gets.

But there was pride in his heart. He said to God, I’m better than many such as those adulterers and even this tax collector. He is ripping off your people on behalf of the Romans.

In contrast, we see humility in the tax collector.

He did not stand in a prominent place, but instead he could not even lift his eyes to heaven but in actions of contrition, cried out to God. O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

The verdict of Jesus is that the tax collector when home justified for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

The solution to pride according to 1 Cor 4 is that we know True Wisdom, we affirm True Servant-leaders and we seek True Discipleship.

Reflection Questions

When are some instances when we might rely on the wisdom of the world instead of the word of God? How can we as a church or CG remind ourselves to anchor on God’s wisdom instead?
Compare your life today with the comparison Paul made against the Corinthian church in 4:8-13. Is it closer to Paul’s experience, or more like the Corinthian church’s? Share one area of struggle and how the gospel can encourage you to imitate Paul.
As servants of Christ, we too are subject only to the judgement of the Lord at his return. Are there things that we do primarily to be accepted in the eyes of men? How can the return of Christ and his commendation of the faithful (4:5) be of encouragement to us to live for His approval alone?