1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
In this first verse Paul lets us see that the lifestyle they lived was not always the best. They never knew what they might be paid or if they might have food to eat or even decent cloths to wear and they never knew if would have a place to stay. Paul had learned to be content when he had much and when he had little and could we only do the same. He goes on to let us know he did not mind working at a job for what he had or for being persecuted for spreading the Gospel. He considered it a privilege to persecuted for the Gospel. He was never popular with the Jews just like good christian people are not popular with the high society of today. They were actually considered the scum of the earth but not in God’s sight. Today we really need to understand that if we do our best to spread the word of God in our society today we will face some of the same challenges Paul faced.