As your neighbors look at you they may think that their lives are better than yours. Their cars are newer, families more accomplished, bank accounts bigger, and friends are freer of suspicion. They may say, therefore, that your Jesus is not worth very much.
Paul lived in such an environment. Writing from Ephesus on his third missionary journey, he wrote his letter to the church at Corinth. Imagine witnessing the great events at Ephesus. On one occasion he saw diviners attempt to imitate the power displayed by Jesus' followers by driving out evil spirits. The possessed individuals turned and severely beat the impostors. Of course Paul was, in the middle of those miraculous events, mystified at the accusations circulated about him from Corinth. The intent of their criticism was that Paul might withdraw from the tasks that God had called him to do.
Corinth was a rich city. The might of the wisdom of men caused their distrust of Paul's ministry. It was that environment in which Paul wrote I Corinthians 4:1-5. His desire was to be known as a servant of Christ. Jesus is worthy of our obedience. Nothing in this life is more worthy than Jesus. Like a coxswain calling out orders to the under-oarsman, Jesus was directing Paul's life.
Why should Paul so openly refuse the judgment of others? His refusal was not that he thwarted sound advice or that he was exempt from criticism. It was, rather, Christ, not current circumstances which bid Paul's obedience. Thus, he said, "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court." Paul was, in short, telling his critics that the end of time will tell the validity of his faithfulness. Meanwhile he would walk in faith, repentance, and obedience. Let the Joneses prosper; nothing would sway him.
Do not get the idea from this passage that we are stop judging ourselves and one another. What injustice we would do, not only to our faith, if we breezed through this life without evaluation! Only a few short passages later, Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for their pride in abiding with and bragging about a man who was having an open affair with his father's wife. I Peter 2:16 clearly tells us that our faith should not be a cover for our sinfulness, "Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves." And while in Ephesus Paul witnessed people passionately turning from their passion for evil to a passion for Jesus. Those once entrenched in evil burned valuable objects used in performing the evil of their previous lives. It would be the equivalent of Christians caught up in the vices of this age burning computers, VCRs, DVDs, satellite receivers and the like in order to leave their past lives behind and pursue their new lives in Jesus.
To your neighbors, what is Jesus' reputation. Do they perceive him as worthy to be followed? Do they witness you abiding in Christ when circumstances call you away from following him? It is not your guilt or innocence that raises Jesus' reputation. Rather your continued love of him through all of life's challenges.
