8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. 9 Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world, to people and angels alike. 10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools - but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak - but you are so powerful! You are honoured, but we are ridiculed. 11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. 14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15 For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 16 So I urge you to imitate me. 17 That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. 19 But I will come, and soon, if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit? 1 Corinthians 4:8-21 New Living Translation.

“Do you want a hiding?” You may have heard that question as a child, or may have said it as a parent of a child. It's what Paul seems to be saying in vs 21 as he writes to Christians at Corinth who were behaving in such childish ways. The problem was that many of them were so full of themselves they looked down on people like Paul and his companions. (vs 8) According to verse 9-11, what was it like being an apostle?

How did Paul and those who were true apostles respond to the abuse that was often heaped upon them as they tried to tell people about Jesus Christ? Vs 12-13.

Those words should encourage us if we are ever mocked for being a Christian.

But there was another reason why the Christians at Corinth ought to have shown Paul respect rather than contempt. What was that? Vs 14-15.

Because Paul had been God's instrument to lead many of them to Christ for salvation they ought to have looked upon him as their spiritual 'father'. But because of intellectual snobbery, and because God's Spirit had given them many abilities that made them think they were something special, some of them had become arrogant and were even questioning Paul's authority. Just like a stroppy rebellious teenager!

So Paul had sent his fellow worker, Timothy, to see if he could gently help them sort their attitude out. But if that didn't work, then Paul would come to them himself and see if their deeds matched up to their boasts. (vs 18-21) What sad lesson can we learn in all of this about Christians?

I would say it shows that Christians are not immune to childish behaviour. We can also be petty and cruel and quarrel over silly things. But the Bible says God's aim for us is to reach mature adulthood and to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we'll no longer be immature like children, but instead, we will speak the truth in love, and grow in every way more and more like Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-16)