Who Or What Are You Imitating? 1 Corinthians 4

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 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! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

In chapter 4 Paul is again dealing with the biggest character flaw in the Corinthians ... pride.  The Corinthians wanted all of the benefits of being a Christian, but didn't want to consider the cost of what that meant.  They saw Paul as weak because of the suffering he had undergone.  They wanted a polished speaker, but instead they got a day laborer, a "tentmaker", a commoner who was dressed in rags and had nowhere to lay his head.  

Guzik says this, 

"The Corinthian Christians had two problems: they were proud of their own spirituality, and they were somewhat embarrassed of Paul because of his “weakness” and humble state. Paul is trying to address both of these problems."

Paul is actually speaking sarcastically to them to get his point across.  In Greek culture to work with one's hands was demeaning.  This is what slaves usually did.  Paul is speaking in extremes to debunk the false ideas they had regarding their leaders and what it meant to be a spiritual leader.  Paul shows them how truly counter cultural it is to be a Christ follower in the affluent and hedonistic Corinthian culture.  

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Though Paul uses a sarcastic tone, he tells them that he is not trying to shame them by it.  He feels a responsibility toward them because he had brought the gospel to them, as an apostle, which he calls being like their "father".  "Guardians" were like teachers that watched over young children and instructed in them in the basics. I.e. Taught them to mind their p's and q's.  As such Paul felt a personal responsibility for their spiritual maturity.  And for the model of spiritual maturity he uses his own walk with Christ.  

We might think this is arrogant, but remember how Paul describes himself.  I.e. the scum of the earth.  Paul is urging them to imitate his way of life in the sense of how he has emptied himself and become a servant of Christ alone no human being.  Paul is not looking to be popular or well liked.  He only wants to be seen as a faithful steward of the mysteries of God.  Paul wants to be faithful in preaching the gospel of salvation through Christ alone, and then living it out in front of them.  

Finally, Paul sends Timothy to encourage them as well.  Paul also encouraged them to observe the way Timothy lived, who was a faithful expression of the very thing Paul is talking about.  So Paul learned from Jesus, as an apostle. He taught Timothy his disciple by modeling for him what it looked like to follow Christ. And now Timothy is bringing that example and reminder to the Corinthians.  This is the model of discipleship Jesus taught and gave us as our mission to make disciples of all nations. Nothing has changed.   

Do you think you could say to someone, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ"? I think this would be a bold thing to say and not necessarily arrogant.  What areas of your life or behaviors do you need to look at so you might be more likely to say such a thing?  Remember Paul is not saying he is not a sinner.  In Romans 7 he confesses how often he doesn't do what God wants him to but in fact does the very opposite. He calls himself a "wretched man".  Nevertheless Paul continues to strive for and be an example of a life given to Christ.  Philippians 3:12-14 sums up what Paul is saying to the Corinthians and by application to us,

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.