Thin-Skinned Kent

Scripture Passage that Caught my Attention today: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

Observation: Paul acted in good faith, but also realized that the ultimate judgment belongs to God. Such judgment will come in it’s own time. Human nature, being what it is, tends to rush to judgment. Those of us who judge can, for a moment, feel as if we are in the right. But it’s shaky ground. Paul is not aware of anything that can be held against him, yet he also knows that it is the Lord who will ultimately judge. He considers other human judgments against him to be “a very small thing.”

Application: Over the course of my ministry I’ve had the privilege and responsibility of supervising interns at various times. At the end of each internship year, after the final reports are finished, I ask the interns to offer a constructive critique of my ministry. Sometimes I’ve been able to incorporate their suggestions; other times not so much. One piece of advice from one of the early interns stands out; “Grow a thicker layer of skin.”

Sometimes I think I have grown a thicker layer of skin. But there are other times when it doesn’t feel very thick at all. Right now is one of those times. Paul considers human judgments against him to be “a very small thing.” For me it seems bigger than that and I’m not sure why.

Maybe it’s because I agree that judgment, at least according to Paul, should not be pronounced before the time.

As humans we tend to rush to judgment much of the time. That’s human nature and perhaps unavoidable. But it would behoove us to never forget that such judgment will never be more than “a very small thing.” There will come a day when things now hidden will come to light, not the least of which are the purposes of the heart.

I know this…deep down…yet I still can’t seem to figure out how to grow that thicker layer of skin.

Prayer: Dear God. You’re the giver of all skin, thick and thin alike. And your skin was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Who are we to think that we deserve any better? Sometimes we think or say things like, “I wish that I were more like Paul!” Really? Would we like to be put in prison and be falsely accused or be so “utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself” (2 Cor. 1:8)? Not so much. Today I’m just gonna try to learn to be content with being thin-skinned Kent. I’ll put that near the top of my to-do list. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Joshua 3-6 and 1 Corinthians 4)