1 Corinthian 4:3 "I don't even judge myself"

D.A. Carson explains "I don't even judge myself" from 1 Corinthians 4:3. He writes, "Christian leaders must prove faithful to the One who has assigned them their fundamental task (4:1-4)...Those who are servants of Christ, those who are entrusted with the secret things of God, do not see themselves winning popularity contests - not even within the church's borders. That is what Paul means when he says, 'I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court' (4:3). There is only one Person whose 'Well, done!" on the last day means anything. In comparison, the approval or diapproval of the church means nothing.
It is not even your own estimate of your service that is important. Feeling good about your ministry may have some limited utility somewhere, but surely it has no ultimate significance. You may think more highly of your service than God does; you may think less of your service than God does. But if you are constantly trying to please yourself, to make self-esteem your ultimate goal then you are forgetting whose servant your are, whom you must strive to please... What he (Paul) means is that his own judging of himself cannot possible have ultimate significance."

Let Mercy Limit Mercy

In Tim Keller's book Ministries of Mercy he writes,"Let mercy limit mercy...Sometimes we may have to say: 'Friend we are not withdrawing our mercy, just changing its form. We will continue to pray for you and visit you, and the minute you are willing to cooperate with us and make the changes that we believe are needed, we will resume our aid. Please realize that it is only out of love that we are doing this!' Let mercy limit mercy"
Recently I spoke with a woman whose son has had a severe struggle with substance abuse. In our short conversation it was evident that in relationship to her son she had let mercy limit mercy.
The exercise of such love or mercy is extremely difficult. In those moments we are often tempted to believe that we have made a condition for those who we are to love unconditionally. But we must remember that when mercy limits mercy there is no refusal to love nor conditions to our love but only wise extensions of that love.
We must remember that unconditional love is not the same as tending to one's every want. Unconditional love is doing everything that is necessary for the good of an individual. This often means that we withhold our resources and even involvement at the expense of their wants. In other words, we seek to love with discernment. Wise love knows when to provide and when to withhold for the good of another.
Wise extensions of love are often offensive to those who receive it. They react in such a way that can cause us to question the wisdom of our love for them. This can become emotionally draining. So what can harness my heart in these moments of limiting mercy with mercy?
Remembering God's love for me. The nature of God's love was such that it offended my pride for my greatest good. As an unbeliever, I looked for God to cater to my 'wants' and my 'wants' were wired to serve me. In essence I was the god of my life and he was to bow to me. However, God demonstrated his love in such a way that exposed my sin and provided the resource (i.e. the person and work of Christ) to rescue me from myself.
For us to extend wise love to others requires an understanding of God's wise love. God's love didn't serve or enable our selfish wants. It sought our best. So let the wise extension of our love to others be governed by God's wise extension of love to us.

Our Failures and God's Unfailing Love

In a recent blog post John Piper was quoted as saying, "When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, “He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “He who calls you is faithful. He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). “He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)."

So what does it mean to 'fall away'? I assume that what Piper means by 'falling away' is to actively resist growth in the grace of sanctification through sins of omission or sins of commission. It certainly cannot be forensic in nature for that is not dependent upon our works but upon the sovereign declaration of God in Christ.

Therefore even if we would fall away from God and make a shipwreck of faith (God forbid), these verses still remain true! For a "falling away from God" does not hinder one's position in Christ. God's intentions to save whether in justification, sanctification or glorification are not thwarted. He does not change in relation to our sinful blights. He remains the same. There remains mountains of mercy through the covenantal love of God purchased up by Christ.

For those who have made a shipwreck of faith God's love remains! They have not outrun his love, for nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, not even our failures.

Shepherding

In Darrin Patrick's book Church Planter: The Man, The Mission, The Message he sites Richard Baxter describing the shepherding ministry and in so doing describes the character of all disciples who are making disciples. Baxter says,
"The whole of our ministry must be carried on in tender love to our people. We must let them see that nothing pleaseth us but what profiteth them; and that what doeth them good doeth us good; and that nothing troubleth us more than their hurt. We must feel toward our people, as a father toward his children; yea the tenderest love of a mother must not surpass. We must even travail in birth, till Christ be formed in them. They should see that we care for no outward thing, neither wealth, nor liberty, nor honour, nor life, in comparison of their salvation; but would even be content, with Moses, to have our names blotted out of the book of the living: rather than they should not be found in the Lamb's book of life."

This is not just hard, it is impossible! There is nothing apart from God's grace in Christ that could reorient our hearts from being thoroughtly captivated with self-interest to living outside of oneself for the good of other and for the glory God in Christ. Disciples who make disciples are in desperate need of God's reorienting grace.

"Do not fear weakness, illness, or a sense of being overwhelmed. The truth of the matter is that such experiences are often the occasions when God most greatly displays his power. As long as people are impressed by your powerful personality and impressives gifts, there is very little room for you to impress them with a crucified Savior."

- D.A. Carson from The Cross and Christian Ministry