1 Corinthians 4:6-7 – And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Where we are at in life and what has been given us physically and spiritually is because of providence.  We often get to think we are better than others.  Everyone can find someone who is a step lower than them in degradation and sin.  That is often how we justify ourselves. But the Word of God makes it clear that a sorry Christian is not what we should compare ourselves to.  The ultimate measurement for comparison is Jesus Christ.

We often elevate not just ourselves too highly but we also expect too much of others.  The Corinthian Christians started to think a little too highly of Paul and Apollos.  They maybe started to see some of their flaws and issues the more they were around them. But Paul taught them by example not to trust in uncertain flesh.  The Corinthian Chrsirians were likely some of the more well to do people Paul dealt with in his missionary journeys.  They had learned to glory in what they had in this life.  Paul wanted to make sure they knew that the only reason they had wealth was because God gave it to them.  It had nothing to do with themselves.  There wealth came from God.

It is very important as you grow in the Lord that you don’t lose sight of where the Lord brought you from.  It helped Paul to remember he was a murderer and persecutor of the church so he could stay humble. Even the fact that you had the opportunity to get saved is a blessing from God and not something you deserve.  If you were raised in church, you should thank God.  You should not put someone down just because they did not have the same opportunities.  God has been good to us.  We just need to always remember where we are at is because of the providence of God.