Short Thoughts

But by the grace of God I am what I am:
and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;
but I laboured more abundantly than they all:
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:10

A party spirit had developed in the church at Corinth that grieved Paul. “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). The church was divided into different factions that touted their favorite preacher. They cried up the passion of Paul, the eloquence of Apollos, or the boldness of Peter. They pitted Paul against Apollos and Peter against Paul. Paul wrote to rebuke them for their carnality. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4). None of these preachers strove for preeminence over the other, so why should the church argue over the greatest?

In our text, Paul speaks about his own case. “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Paul readily owned that Apollos was a great preacher. Luke said of Apollos, “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24-25). Apollos was a very able speaker. He had a great command of the scriptures. He was diligent and passionate in preaching. After Aquila and Priscilla helped to complete his knowledge, “he mightily convinced the Jews.” I believe that Paul rejoiced in Apollos and the fact that he used his great gifts in the service of the Lord.

However, Paul states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Apollos was many things but Paul says, “I am not him.” Paul said, “My preaching was not with enticing words.” (1 Corinthians 2:4). He admits that his own speech was rough and plain. He was not the polished preacher that Apollos was, but his preaching was “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). It would be a mockery to try to imitate Apollos. Paul says, “I am what I am.”

No doubt, Paul would commend the ministry of Peter. Peter had companied with the Lord during His earthly ministry. He was drawn into an inner circle of fellowship with Jesus along with James and John. Peter could be fiery and wax bold in preaching. He possessed a great ability in the ministry. Paul would rejoice in these things and would not seek to copy Peter. Paul says, “I am what I am.”

Paul condemned the over-comparison that led to division. Each minister has his own work. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Often one man enters into the labors of another “reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed” (Matthew 25:24). It is foolish to heap praise on the laborers and set them up as some great one. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Paul’s goal was to exalt Christ not Paul. All true preachers want Christ to be exalted and lament if they themselves are lifted up. They say with the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

As every one has his own work, every one has his own gifts to suit his work. “If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). Paul could not use the eloquence of Apollos or the boldness of Peter. He recognized “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Every one has their own gifts of the Lord. Paul said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

In the last place, we see that Paul did not seek credit for all his labors. Paul states the facts saying, “I laboured more abundantly than they all.” He is not bragging, just stating the truth. However, Paul does not glory in himself. He says, “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul rejoices in the grace of God.

But for the grace of God, where would you be today? You and I might be the worst lot of sinners the world has ever known, but for the grace of God. Instead of seeking to do His will and glorify Christ with our lives, we could be serving the flesh and wasting our substance with riotous living. Praise God! Who saved me and washed me from my sins in Jesus’ blood! What do you know of the grace of God at this hour? Flee from the wrath to come and seek to lay hold of Christ through faith!

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus,
when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books,
but especially the parchments.”
~ 2 Timothy 4:13

Upon first glance, this verse may seem of no great consequence. Paul is simply asking his young friend Timothy to come to him and bring some of his personal possessions with him. However, I believe “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). More than once, A. W. Pink wrote that the Bible was not written for a lazy man. The Word opens up its treasures only for those who “labour in the word and doctrine.” The Holy Spirit has not moved “holy men of God” to speak in vain and, therefore, nothing trivial is bound in “the volume of the book” that God has given. With this in mind, let us meditate upon God’s Word and receive profit thereby.

Paul the aged confesses that his days are ending writing, “the time of my departure is at hand.” Our text somewhat reveals the mind of a man facing the reality of his own death. He tells Timothy in verse 9, “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:” and in our text says, “when thou comest.”

One by one all of his companions had left him. They all had their reasons and maybe even plead their work as sufficient grounds. In verse 11, he says, “Only Luke is with me.” He is here urging Timothy to come with haste. Paul certainly had no time to waste and he longed for his truest friends to be with him.

He also told Timothy to “Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Paul had once called Mark “Apostate” (ref. Greek Acts 15:38) and refused to take him on a missionary journey. He was so strong in his conviction that it caused a sharp contention and separated his chief friend Barnabas from him. Now Paul considers him useful and wants his presence with his closest friends. Time and labor have a way of healing old wounds. Paul shows grace and wisdom is not holding on to an old grudge. He acknowledges that Mark has made good and overcome the defect that Paul early detected.

I was talking with a couple of older brethren once and the name of a certain man came up in conversation. The oldest fellow was asked if he knew this man. “Yeah, I know him” was his reply with obvious distaste. He proceeded to tell us that he “didn’t care anything for him.” He had said something nearly 20 years ago that upset this now elderly man. He could not remember what was said, or even what it was about, and he had not seen him in almost 20 years, but he was determined as ever to hold on to his grudge and dislike for the man.

What an amazing waste of energy, emotion, and time this is to remain angry over forgotten offenses. Paul had told the Philippians, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Part of reaching forth is forgetting what is behind. Furthermore, in an attitude of brotherly kindness let us be “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). In this Paul is a great example.

Paul furnishes us with another great example in his dwindling hours. Paul had requested Timothy to bring his coat and also “the books.” He desired to have another look at his old books. Almost every preacher realizes the value of good books and especially The Book. Paul is a bound prisoner and the sun is setting quickly on his life, what should he do? Maybe Paul should retire and rest. I mean, what can he do? His request for his books gives an insight into his mind in his waning hours. He told Timothy that God had put him “into the ministry.” I believe he is resolved that with whatever time, health, and strength he has, he is going to stay at it.

He took a great interest in young preachers and endeavored to encourage and help them along as he could. He told Timothy, “make full proof of thy ministry.” He sent word to Archippus to “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” He had said of himself, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). He is a tremendous example and testimony. Paul was faithful unto the end, faithful even unto death. His words carry a great weight when viewed in the light of his own steadfastness. Whatever time he had, he was going to improve it for the work of the Lord.

Paul here provides us with a key to a successful ministry and Christian life. We should forget and forgive past infractions. We cannot move forward always looking back. We also should stick to the work at all times, and in all places and conditions. If God has put us into the ministry, then He is also one day going to take us out. If we have done all to stand, we can one day reflect with joy that we have finished our course and fought a good fight.