January 23, 2005

BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME

1 Corinthians 11:1

 

   "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ," was Paul's closing line of several chapters wherein he repeatedly exhorted that our liberty must not be an occasion for the flesh or to please our-selves. Instead we are at liberty to yield and to be sensitive to the weaknesses of others so as to cause no offence, whether they were Jews, Gentiles, or the church of God (1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1).

   Paul said to follow him as he "followed Christ." Therefore it might prove helpful to see how the Lord carried Himself in such situations. In Romans 15:3 he wrote, "Christ pleased not Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell upon Me'" (Psalm 69:9). The Psalm pictures the Lord as taking upon Himself the reproaches and malignity directed against God. He felt it keenly. Reproaches cause offences, especially upon those who are weak. Thus Paul wrote, "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" (2 Cor. 11:29). What sympathy and care!

   On a most interesting occasion, the tribute money collectors asked Peter, "Does not your master pay the tribute?" Without consulting Christ he replied, "Yes," but when he came into the house the Lord explained to Peter that such tribute for the support of kings is not collected of their own family or household, but of others. That being so both Peter and the Lord would be exempt from this tax. Yet since He was not held in such esteem by the Jews, He conceded, "Notwith- standing, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook and take up the fish that first comes up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money. That take and give unto them for Me and for thee" (Mt. 17:24-27). This miracle showed Who was really King!

   The Lord continued by warning against offending even "one of these little ones which believe in Me. It would be better for him that a millstone were hanged out his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." He warned that offences would come but pronounced "woe to that man by whom the offence comes." So serious was the matter the Lord said to cut off an offending hand or foot or eye rather than to suffer the shame of hell fire (Mt. 18: 1-10).

 

Ivan L. Burgener