Before we get to todays passage, we need three verses that set it up. In verses 6 through 8, Paul turns to the Corinthians and asks a question that has never lost its edge: “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if you did not?” Then he says, with heavy irony, that they have already become rich, already become kings, and he wishes it were true so he could reign with them. They were comfortable. And they had become comfortable at the expense of the men who brought them the gospel.

That is the setup. Now hear what Paul says about the life of the people who actually carried the message to them:

“It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. Even today we go hungry and thirsty and dont have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and dont have a place to live.” (1 Corinthians 4:9–11, CEV