1 Corinthians 4:11-12, No Certain Dwelling Place

1 Corinthians 4:11-12 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

Having no certain home to go back to in the night, the Apostle Paul lived as a missionary for many years carrying the message of the gospel to foreign lands. He came to Corinth, the gospel was preached, souls saved, the church began there!

Jesus is saying here that those who profess to be true disciples of Christ should be warned plainly to “count the cost” of discipleship. Are they prepared to endure hardship? Are they prepared to carry the cross before they begin?

 Luke 9:59-62 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 There are times when the Christian must literally give up for Christ’s sake, and when even such duties as attending to a parent’s funeral must be left to be performed by others. Such duties others can perform but there is no greater duty than preaching the Gospel and doing Christ’s work in the world.

He was talking about a complete way of life involving a renunciation of living for your own selfish interests and an embracing of living for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

May God help us to count the cost of discipleship and be willing, by God’s grace, to pay the price in our service for Him. Amen.