Labored More Abundantly Than They All

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all.” 1 Cor. 15:10. If Paul had ended the verse this way, he would have been under the law. But he had not la­bored in his own strength; he had labored by grace, by the righteousness of faith. Therefore he concludes, “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Many people place demands on others. For example, they feel like young people don’t visit them and don’t give them as much attention as they deserve, etc. Anyone who nurtures such expectations is under the law and not under grace. God worked with Paul, and he became so humble that God could give him tremendous grace and power without him exalting himself. God led him into quietness—and he was not inter­ested in a great outward show. He did not consult with flesh and blood, but he worked for 17 years in quietness in Arabia, Damascus and Syria. Gal. 1:17-18 and 2:1.

There are many tasks we are not able to do unless God enables us to do them. For example, a person who becomes the king of a country must be trained for that position so that he is worthy of his task. We too, must learn every day, and we must receive chastening in our lives if we want to learn God’s curriculum. We can be tempted to draw back, but Jesus did not draw back when He was being chastened. “The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. ‘For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.’” Is. 50:5-7. The Father’s hand was able to do a work with Jesus, so that He became like a lion and a lamb. He was as hard as flint against ungodliness, but merciful and good to sinners.

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.” 1 Pet. 2:4. As mortals, sin makes an impression on us. But Jesus was a living stone—rock-solid. God’s Word, however, made a powerful impres­sion on Him, and God formed and trained Him. God’s nature was alive in Jesus’ heart—for example, God’s gentleness, mercy and goodness. It is our calling to be living stones. 1 Pet. 2:5. Sinful people are impressed by beauty, power and honor. Jesus was hard as a rock against this, and so are His true fol­lowers. Paul had to speak words of rebuke to the Corinthians: “For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Cor. 3:3. All of this must come to a complete end!