1 Corinthians 4

The message of this chapter is simple, don't be prideful. Follow the apostles as they follow Christ. Paul reveals how difficult it can be for him saying even at that moment he was hungry and thirsty, that he lacked clothes, a place to stay, that he was treated roughly. He says he is thought of as a fool, that he's reviled, persecuted, defamed, and "made as the filth of the world." In verse 9, he says he thinks they are the last apostles because they will all be put to death in a manner that will be a spectacle for the world. His ministry must have been deeply rewarding but at the same time almost more difficult, more frustrating, and more painful than a person could bear. How grateful we should be for Paul. What a shame we do not have more of the other apostle's writings and experiences whose stories must have been equally inspiring.