Do not judge by the outward appearance: (10:7-11):
It is true in some congregations specially in India, if the pastor shows love and true humility, the members reject his leadership. If some other pastor comes in his position who is a dictator, the members would submit to him. This was true with the Corinthian church also.
Here the Corinthians were looking at outward appearance. It seemed from the early Christian writings, Paul’s physical stature was not attractive. He was a small man in stature, bald head with crooked legs, his eye brows meeting, nose somewhat hooked. (cited in Kruse). Paul may not have had such stamina of Peter or the oratorical power of Apollos. So he was despised by some of the Corinthians. Paul says that if Corinthians belong to Jesus Christ, let them look at themselves and their appearance. If they are confident of belonging to Christ, Paul is much more. No one wants to be judged by outward appearance, because God sees the heart. Yet the Corinthians are judging Paul by outward appearance. It is not wrong to test an apostle’s credentials, but the Corinthians were using the wrong test because they were judging by outward appearance.
Paul was not comfortable to speak about his authority as many preachers do now-a-days, but he wrote to them with humbleness. Although he can boast about the authority he had, he did not want to exaggerate it. He would want to build them up, rather than pulling them down by his boasting. He recognizes that Lord gives authority in the church for only to build the body of believers but not to tear down or destroy it. This is true in every area of life. God has established levels of authority and submission. He did this to build up, not to destroy. Paul relied completely on the power of God, not on the power of his own personality, coupled with his strong letters.
He knew that when he was weak, he becomes strong by the power of God. In his weakness he called on God, but God said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (12:9). Further Paul says: if they do not repent they can see a tough Paul. Paul will come with authority and seriousness and this would frighten them. Paul would match his actions with what he has written in his letters.
Ex: William Carey was a cobbler came to India and established the missions. He is called the father of Indian missions. He translated the Bible and parts of the Bible into 42 Indian languages, printed the first Bible in Indian language. If one visits his mission place i.e. Serampore University, we can understand that he did such great works which no human can do it. He was a man of very small stature unlike any European, but a powerful man of God.
How to measure our ministry: (10:12-18):
Apostle Paul gives how a minister can measure his ministry while writing about the false teachers and critics in Corinthian church.
- The wrong measure: (10:12): Paul’s critics thought themselves very high above others. They are many people who commend themselves very high in their own minds and thoughts. They are nothing but proud, selfish, self-righteous people. The reason is that they measure themselves with themselves. Some people may not tell in public, but they have it in their hearts that they are much above than others. This is true with many pastors, lay leaders in the church. They enjoy in their self-exaltation and blowing their own trumpet. Because of this many churches especially in India are not teaching the right word of God. They are not being led by the Holy Spirit. They avoid the preachers when they preach about Salvation, righteousness of God, the second coming of God, heaven and hell The best way is examine our hearts like David: “Search me O God and know my heart… (Ps.139:23-24).
Paul told the Corinthians that the only thing that had kept him from going to other regions was their own lack of faith. Had they been submissive to his leadership and obedient to the Word, he could have reached other lost souls, but they created so many problems for him, that he had to take time from missionary evangelism to solve the problems in the church.
Carnalism has taken rampant growth in India and other third world countries. Paul says such people are fools. Their destiny is reserved.
Further Paul says that we should stop comparing ourselves among ourselves! We should not make ourselves the measure of others, feeling that we are superior to them by our outward appearance and our success. We must let the Holy Spirit to measure our ministry through the Word of God. At the same time we should not feel that we are failures by others outward appearance and their success.