THURSDAY, MAY 18
1 Corinthians 4:6-8
Romans 13:11-14

"…ye have reigned as
kings without us."

A COMPLACENT CHURCH!

It is most troubling when a church becomes so complacent that they cannot perceive their own desolate spiritual state. Paul described the complacency of the Corinthian believers in the first part of 1 Corinthians 4:8. Even though the church belonged to God, they regarded themselves as possessors of the church. Thus they reigned and lorded themselves over ecclesiastical affairs, thinking that all things were well. They regarded themselves as spiritually rich and full of spiritual gifts that they could do away with the instruction of the Apostle Paul and his fellow labourers!

One of the signs of spiritual immaturity and complacency is the way a church treats her faithful leaders. While faithful leaders are lowly "underrowers" and "house servants" just like everyone else, the office to which they are called to is nevertheless a high one. The Bible instructs us in Hebrews 13:7, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." It adds in Hebrews 13:17, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." When a church rejects her faithful teachers and leaders, she is actually rejecting the authority of God and His Word. She is telling the Lord, "Let us reign over our own lives! We are lords over the church!"

Nevertheless, Paul displayed much humility in his words towards the Corinthian Christians. He looked forward to the day when he and the Corinthian Christians would reign together with the Lord Jesus Christ. His words were also an expression of his desire that the Corinthian Christians should prosper richly in all spiritual things in this life, and that they would be partakers of the same joy in Christ Jesus. Herein is a man who is truly mature and humble in the Lord!

THOUGHT: Am I spiritually complacent?
PRAYER: Lord, wake me up from any spiritual slumber!