My Lifestyle
"For it seems to me that
God has put us apostles on display at the end of the
procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have
been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as
well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise
in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored,
we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and
thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are
homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are
cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when
we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we
have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world!"
(1 Corinthians 4: 9-13)
Years ago, my Church held a large picnic in Mission Park.
While there, several noticed an unidentified man standing in
line for food. These curious members watched as he loaded
his plate with food, stood around for a minute and then
joined friends under a tree on the other side of the park.
Another member and I went over to the tree and invited all
four homeless young people to the feast. They agreed and we
learned a great deal about the homeless.
A homeless lifestyle is the result of a number of decisions.
These four claimed to be happy without the work involved in
managing a home choosing to live free from the “trappings of
wealth and false security”.
It is always interesting to discover the motives and
decisions behind the way people live. The Apostle Paul, like
Christ, did not stay at a home. Paul traveled with
companions constantly. He desired to spread the good news of
Jesus Christ to every person in Asia. To accomplish this
goal he and his companions faced serious opposition and much
ridicule. There is great resistance to the message of
salvation by grace through Christ.
Paul uses sarcasm under the anointing of the Holy Spirit to
break through the Corinthian arrogance. Some reject and/or
reform his teaching about Jesus to please self and gain a
position of power in the social group. This group did not
understand Paul or his motives.
As far as I am concerned, the kids in the park needed to
have a home! “My lifestyle is what I understand and
what ought to be." Yes I am guilty of the same
arrogance. Every person is called to a life of service in
Christ but every person called may not life the same
lifestyle as the others.
Arrow Epistle © 1998-2000 The Spokane Outreach Center.
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Appearing Saturday, March 15, 2003