Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ). 1 Corinthians 4:8-13 read as follows:
"8 Already you are filled! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things."
In this context we see that the apostles were not doing well financially: they were ill-clad and homeless, for example ( see verse eleven, above ).
As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we must be careful to strive to imitate the apostle Paul ( see 4:16; 9:1; 11:1; and 16:21, for example ), realizing that true success in this life means doing the will of the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14; 7:21-23; and John 8:28, 29, for example ). We need not be deluded into thinking that achieving the American dream, that of having a nice home, a nice automobile, and a nice job, for example, equates to spiritual prosperity. This can only be accomplished by being rich toward God ( see Luke 12:13-40 ( especially verses 21, 32-34, for example ) and James 2:5; 5:1-6, for example ).
Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ). If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
