A Humble Attitude • 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:7
By Jessica McMillan
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that joins two seemingly opposite ideas to make a point or encourage people to think in a different way. Some familiar examples are “bittersweet,” “organized chaos,” and “pretty ugly.” These expressions remind us that some truths are paradoxical.
To outsiders, Christianity itself can seem full of paradoxes. We say that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55), that we live by dying (Matthew 16:24–25; Philippians 2:5–11; John 12:24–26), and that we win by losing (Matthew 16:24–25). Yet, as we will see in this week’s lesson, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Corinthians 3:19). The world urges us to elevate ourselves in pursuit of status and recognition, but God calls us to a life of humility and faithfulness to Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:18-22
In last week’s lesson, we discussed the focus of our service and how we serve best when we do it in unity. As we continue in this passage, Paul is not indicating that wisdom itself is foolish to God, but that what the world considers wise is exposed as foolish from God’s perspective. Verse 21 reminds the believers at Corinth to stop “boasting” in human leaders because they belong to Christ. There is no need to divide over leaders because believers already have everything they need in Christ (vv. 21–23).
Notice the progression in this summation: All things are yours. You are Christ’s. Christ is God’s. Paul’s correction isn’t merely about personality conflicts; it’s about elevating human leaders in ways that obscure Christ. There is no room for power struggles, celebrity culture, or pride that leads to split congregations. It was not OK in Corinth, and it is not OK in our churches today.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Beginning in chapter 4, Paul concludes his discourse on the disunity of the factions in the church at Corinth and changes to the right way to treat the leaders. Instead of seeing them as rivals, leaders should be considered helpers who are respected — not so much for their authority but for their accountability to Christ. In verse 1, he identifies them as “servants of Christ” and reminds them that they are stewards of God’s “mysteries.” In verses 2–5, Paul stresses faithfulness over status. We can conclude that while we also are servants entrusted with God’s work, the true goal is faithfulness to Christ, not the approval of others.
1 Corinthians 4:6-7.
Here Paul appeals to the believers to behave right and avoid rivalries amongst themselves. Verse 7 includes three rhetorical questions with the anticipated but unspoken answers in the negative. “For who makes you different from anyone else?” (No one but God alone.) “What do you have that you did not receive?” (Nothing.) “And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (We should not.) The underlying point is that God is completely in control and we should not take credit for what he has done. Every good and perfect gift — including every ability, opportunity, and blessing — comes straight from God alone, so no one has any reason to boast.
Verse 7 contains perhaps one of the clearest statements that every blessing is received, not earned. Another word for that is grace. Though this kind of humility may appear foolish to the world, Paul provides a trustworthy example of what faithful Christian service looks like — serving Christ with humility, unity, and dependence on God’s grace.
McMillan is on faculty at NOBTS and is a member of Roseland Park Baptist Church, Picayune.
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