The theme of the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians is about unity. We need to be one. We need to love one another. God wanted His people to be one (John 17:20-21)—every family and every church united.

Another way to maintain this unity is for us to serve one another. Our calling is to serve each other. Even Jesus came to serve us (Mark 10:45).  He died for our sins, His ultimate act of service. He wants all of us to serve one another as well.

But we have a problem. As we serve others, we have the tendency to serve ourselves: not willing to listen, easily hurt when not considered, often think we are correct, easily offended when rebuked, keeps comparing ourselves to others, not willing to adjust, always blames others, not willing to apologize, unforgiving, not serving at all. We need to check our hearts if we are doing it the right way or are we doing it for ourselves.

The best way to serve is to SERVE CHRIST as we serve one another:

Paul says we are servants of Christ who steward the mysteries of God which is the gospel (v.1). To serve with the right heart means that as we serve, we fix our eyes on Jesus. Majority of our disappointments happen when we look at people. We need to be trustworthy servants who do what God wants us to do (v.2). Paul wasn’t affected by wrong judgment and criticism nor bitter about it (v.3). He was secure in Christ because he was serving the Lord. The One who examines us is the Lord (v.4). When we fix our eyes on Jesus, any insecurities we feel suddenly are washed away. The problem is the world feeds that insecurity. That’s why Paul is saying not to look at people when we serve. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are not to judge (v.5, Matthew 7:1). We are not to make superficial (John 7:24), harsh (Titus 3:2), self-righteous (Luke 18:9-14), untrue (Proverbs 19:5), and abrupt (1 Corinthians 4:5) judgment. God will eventually come back and there will be an ultimate judgment. God knows what’s in our heart and He will expose our wrong motives. He will help you change and have the right motive or heart.

To serve in humility means that no matter how people respond, you’re going to do it out of love. Jesus said to the disciples that whoever wants to be prominent and first, must serve (Mark 10:42-44). It’s a mindset or perspective that we are here to serve.

The church in Corinth had intellectual pride (vv.6-7). The focus should have been the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:2-3). Paul was focused to help people look to Jesus—to focus on what He has done, and experience transformed lives. The knowledge that God has given us should transform our lives. Sometimes, we take pride on what we know that we forget we are servants of Christ and we are to love others like Him. Serve one another as we serve Christ. Paul was rebuking the believers because they were fighting because of their knowledge thinking they were superior (v.8). He responded by being a model on how to respond the right way (vv.9-10). People are looking when we serve, a spectacle to the world. Even in difficult situations, we will not give up serving (vv.11-13). No matter how difficult life may get, how much challenging people are, or how much brokenness God will allow us to experience, always choose to serve Christ with your all.

To serve to build up means that as we serve, we help others become Christ-like. The best version of yourself and of your family members is Christ-likeness. That is the ultimate goal. Paul is admonishing, which means to build up or to strengthen in Greek, the Corinthians (vv.14-15). He is speaking as a spiritual father who is concerned with their whole being—that they become more like Christ. He is not just a tutor who is concerned with just one aspect of their life. He then boldly says to them to imitate him as he follows Christ (v.16). He has a lot of security in Christ. He was modeling Christlikeness to these people. The best way to help other people become Christ-like is we become Christ-like. We live it out.

Paul was so intentional with this that he wanted to check up on them (v.17). Accountability is important (vv.18-19)! He wants to know if the knowledge and the words that they say have the power of God. Anyone can be trained to be an excellent and eloquent speaker, but only God has the power to transform lives. We need God’s power. He ends in vv.20-21 that in order to help others become like Christ, it’s not just always encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Rebuke (Hebrews 10:24-25) is necessary sometimes. Encouragement and rebuke from people are God’s tools to grow us to become more like Jesus.

Why do we need to serve Christ? First, it is His Kingdom not our kingdom (v.20). He is the King and Master.  Second, it is the power of God that has been working in our life (Romans 1:16). We choose to serve Christ because of WHO HE IS, WHAT HE HAS DONE, and WHAT HE WILL DO IN AND THROUGH US.