We start adding our own extras to give our position a little more pizzazz than the other guy. Paul urges them not to "go beyond what is written." The gospel is an equalizer -- everything we have that is good is a gift and no one is an earner. One of the pleasant characteristics of liturgical churches -- from my standpoint -- is that is doesn't focus on the preacher. Many evangelicals are like the Corinthians. "I think Pastor X is really dynamic." "No, Pastor Y is better!"
Liturgical worship, for all its formality, has the capability to focus on worship and reflect on the word of God, not on how much ga-ga the service has. We could learn from that.
The Corinthians took "ruling or reigning" in the same manner as the pagan rulers -- they wanted to be distinguished, esteemed, opulent. To Paul, reigning came by serving (just as his model -- Jesus -- said, "the one who rules must be servant of all") and he gave examples of how that manifested in the lives of his fellow apostles.
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.Make no mistake, Christians are destined to rule, but it will not be by force, it will be by service.
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