1 Corinthians 4:11

‘Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and are knocked about, and have no certain dwelling place. And we toil, working with our hands. Being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we endure, being defamed we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.'

Paul now defines the life of the Christian witness. How differently from many today those who sought first the Kingly Rule of God, and His righteousness, lived, those who walked the way of the cross. They did not feast. They hungered and thirsted and went without, they were not fashionably dressed but lived in minimum clothing, they were not pampered but were knocked about, they did not bask in luxury but toiled, working with their hands. They were regularly reviled, persecuted and defamed, and regularly misrepresented, because they thrust themselves into the spiritual battle among unbelievers. Indeed they were treated as refuse, as what men dispense with in disgust. And in return for their maltreatment they blessed their persecutors (see Luke 6:27), and endured, and answered in a friendly way, and continued to entreat men to come to Christ. They were those of whom the world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:38). Perhaps there was a deliberate hint in this that the Corinthians were not obeying their Master in this and should learn to do the same.

In this the Apostles followed Christ. He too hungered (Luke 4:2; Matthew 21:18), thirsted (John 4:7; John 19:28); was naked (Mark 15:24); was knocked about (Mark 14:65); had no certain dwelling place (Luke 9:58); and was reviled, persecuted and defamed (1 Peter 2:23; John 15:20; Mark 15:29).

‘Toil, working with our hands.' This was toil resulting in calluses, weariness and fatigue (2 Thessalonians 3:8), the labour of love that works itself to the bone for those it loves (1 Thessalonians 1:3). There was no life of ease and relaxation for those who served Christ truly. And they wanted not to be a burden to others. The Jews respected toil. All Jewish teachers were expected to support themselves. But the Greeks tended to despise it. Such was for slaves and the lower classes. Thus Paul is indicating that they were seen as at a low level in Greek eyes.

Note Paul's emphasis. ‘Even to this present hour --- even until now'. For those who served Christ faithfully the times of plenty were not yet here, the Messianic age was not yet come, nor would it until God's purposes were come to fruition. So if the Corinthians boasted of their prosperity and of their luxurious living it was no indication of their spiritual status but rather of their spiritual bankruptcy.

The Corinthians are a picture of all who live in prosperity and excess while the world languishes. Paul is saying that evangelists and ministers who live in luxury are a contradiction in terms. Prelates who dress splendidly are a contradiction of the Gospel. Those who bask in fame and plaudits do but demonstrate their own unspiritual state. Those who own more expensive properties than their congregations and larger cars show their unspirituality and even hypocrisy. For those who serve faithfully will be living lives of sacrifice and self-control in order that Christ may be lifted up. By their fruits (by how they live and what they produce) they will be known.

While the Scriptures nowhere condemn godly men who have wealth, they certainly condemn those who fail to use it wisely to help the needy. Consider Luke 10:33; Luke 12:18; Luke 16:9; Luke 16:19; Luke 18:22. And they also command us to lay up treasure, not on earth but in Heaven (Matthew 6:19) and give us the example of the widow and her pittance which she gave to God, reminding us that God does not look at how much we give so much as at how much we have left (Mark 12:43).

‘The offscouring of all things.' This described such things as the grease and grime wiped from pots and pans. That which was wiped off and thrown into the cesspit. See also Lamentations 3:45.