You know how it is, the child always wanting something, asking to do something, asking to go somewhere with someone, and the father saying no. It frustrates both the child and the parent, but when done for the right reasons, it is very helpful. The child may not know why a request may be unreasonable, dangerous or unwise, but often the father does. Because he loves his child, he wants to protect his child, saving him from unwise choices and negative consequences. This is how the apostle Paul felt toward the Corinthians. Paul rebuked them sharply in his first recorded letter, but his motivation was love.
“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:14-17).
A child may feel humiliated. The restrictions of the father may leave him as the only one unable to see a particular movie, it may leave him out of a circle of friends, it may expose him as “different” which can be a hard thing to stomach at a young age. But, the father does not want that. The father only wants to warn, to direct, to protect. The child may not be able to understand, or care. But as we are not children we should be able to accept the why of the admonition, as well as understand the admonition itself. It is obvious from Paul’s second letter that the Corinthians were capable of just that.
Paul told them that he considered them his children. Others had taught them, but his ministry was responsible for their new birth. He had “begotten them through the gospel.” His feelings for the Corinthians would mirror those of a father for his child.
As such, Paul warned, taught and rebuked. He sent his fellow worker Timothy to them so that the evangelist could edify them with Paul’s teaching, face to face.
But, an important thing to note: Paul didn’t play favorites. The Corinthians were neither his favorites, nor mistreated by him. What they were being taught is what Paul taught “in every church.” God does not discriminate. He is fair. The things about which Paul was informing the Corinthians apply to everyone who names the name of Christ. They are as applicable to us today as they were to the Corinthians 2,000 years ago! Paul, and God, love us too!
