Category Archives: Commentary

“We are fools for Christ’s sake . . . “

I Corinthians 4:10

Why does the world largely reject the testimony of saved people today? I believe it is due to our lack of dedication to God. The radical terrorist is willing to give his life, to blow himself up, for his cause, yet the people of the one, true God are not willing to do the one thing He asks of them: “I beseech you therefore, brethren . . . that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice . . . “ God does not ask us to give our lives for Him but to give up our living for self to live for Him.

In I Corinthians 4:10, Paul stated that he had been called a fool because of his dedication to Christ. The word in the Greek is “moros,” meaning dull, not acute. We get our word “moron” from this Greek word. In Acts 17:18 the Apostle was called a “babbler.” That is literally a “seed picker.”  It was a reference to a small bird which picked up seeds and was also applied to the idle men of Athens who lived by collecting the refuse of the market place. Who of us would want to be thought of in that manner? In Acts 4:13 Peter and John are called “ignorant and unlearned men.”

In I Corinthians 4:10 Paul went on to say, “We are despised (without honor). And, in verse 13 he said, “We are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.” The “filth of the world” referred to that which is thrown away in cleansing. It was used in Athens of worthless persons who in plague or famine . . . were reserved to be thrown into the sea in the belief that they would cleanse or wipe off the guilt of the nation. The “offscouring of all things” speaks of the “scrapings from all around; scum, filth.” That surely doesn’t sound like the manner in which most church members want to be thought of today. Nor does it sound like the reputation that most preachers (especially the “joy boys” of television) want to hold in this present evil world.

Why did the world look upon Peter, John, and Paul in this manner. Back in verse 10, Paul gave the answer when he said, “We are fools for Christ’s sake.”  He was thought a fool for a lifestyle that did not promote self and self gain. Paul had completely surrendered himself to Christ and lived in that manner. One may be able to attend church occasionally and not be thought a fool. However, start really living for Christ, forsaking some things and giving all to serve Him, and see what happens. A careful reading of Acts 17:32-34 will reveal that most in the “intellectual community” have never considered the saved as worthy of being heard.

Paul may have been thought a fool for Christ’s sake, but he was never foolish for Christ’s sake. There is a vast difference between the two. Unfortunately, today in our entertainment oriented society there are many teachers, youth leaders, and, yes, even preachers who will act a fool to draw a crowd. They claim they do it so they can “preach the gospel” to a large group of people. However, resorting to the world’s tactics to draw a crowd only cheapens the message and the messenger. And, when the “show” is over, you can be sure the crowd will go away and, next time, seek a bigger and better show. “Preach the word” was the instruction Paul gave Timothy, and I believe that admonition is still good today. And, based on God’s Word, I am sure that if we will just dedicate our lives, homes, families — everything to Christ, we will, indeed, be thought fools . . . “for Christ’s sake.”