Who are we doing this for?

We have built a good foundation on our way through 1 Corinthians. Last week we looked into the fact that we are the temple of God. And because we are his temple we must keep our selves holy. Keep our selves pure.

What dwells in the temple of God? The spirit of God dwells in the temple of God.

If we are going to understand this concept we must look upon Gods wisdom rather than the wisdom of man or wisdom of our own.

Because of this we learn that we should not glory in man. Because man simply is not God, and never will be. No matter who the man is do not put your glory in him.

Who should we put our glory in? Jesus Christ the messiah and savior of the world.

So if we should not put glory in man even if they are our church leaders how should we treat them or look upon them.

1 Corinthians 4:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

What is this telling us? based upon the previous chapter we should not put our glory our church leaders. This chapter opens up with two ways to treat the leaders in the church.

As ministers - The word for minister is hupēretēs, literally meaning “an under-rower” in a boat and it denotes someone in a subordinate capacity. Thus Paul, the greatest of all apostles, the greatest of all teachers, the greatest of all missionaries, the greatest of all pastors, describes himself as “an under-rower.” He was a man under authority. Let the Corinthians boast of their favorite preachers. He wanted no part in it. He, like all the others, was just one of those who belonged to Christ.

John Phillips, Exploring 1 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), 1 Co 1:10–4:21.

As stewards of the mysteries of God - Then Paul points to his stewardship: “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). The word for steward is oikonomos, someone who managed the affairs of his master’s household. The primary responsibility of a steward is to be faithful. We all have been entrusted with something by the Lord and we shall be held accountable at the judgment seat of Christ for what we have done with it.

John Phillips, Exploring 1 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), 1 Co 1:10–4:21.

So the leaders in church are ministers driving the ship that Christ is the captain of. As well as a steward of the mysteries that Christ has for us. To faithfully teach the Bible and spread the word to the congregants.

Further more this stewardship goes not just for the church leader but for every believer. As we have all been given something from God to steward.

What is this thing that we have been given by God? Yes the spirit of God through this spirit we have been given a unique set of things?

Ok so we understand the ministers and stewards part. Now what is the apostle telling us here in the opening verses in this chapter?

Picking up in verses 3 and 4

1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (KJV 1900)

1 Corinthians 4:3–4 KJV 1900

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

He is saying it is a small thing to be judged by the congregants of of any other mans judgement. He doesn’t even judge him self.

So what are some take aways we can get from this.

The judge of the leadership of church is the Lord

The judge of you is not the people around you so stop living for the ones around you and live for the Lord Jesus. We don’t need to spend all of our time worrying and wondering what people think about us. In our dress, in our speech, in the way we carry our self. We must though worry incessantly about what Christ thinks about us. May we make a big deal of what he wants for us.

There is also the question of personal judgment (1 Cor. 4:3b–4). We have, for instance, Paul’s refusal: “Yea, I judge not mine own self” (4:3b). “I do not examine myself,” he says. Some people are given to morbid self-introspection. That is one of the Devil’s favorite tricks, to get us perpetually taken up with our faults and failings, our sins and shortcomings, so that we are permanently disabled from any real usefulness in the Lord’s work. Some believers become so taken up with themselves that they miss altogether God’s will for their lives.

Now because of this what is the rest of the chapter saying

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Paul says be patient and don’t caste judgement on things you ought not. Notice what happened to the people who falsely accused Job.

Job 42:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

Don’t take this as me saying you should not use judgement. Quite the contrary. Use good judgement calls to make a decision. But do not get into the business of condemning people.

Remembering all the while eventually everything will be brought to light according to verse 5 and Jesus will ultimately judge us on all of our good and all of our bad.

1 Corinthians 4:6–8 KJV 1900

6 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. 7 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? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

Remember you are not working for the applause of men or women around you. So don’t get puffed up and big headed when you attain great things in front of men. Realizing that all of those things that you have accomplished have not come from you but from the father above.

1 Corinthians 4:9–13 KJV 1900

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 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.

He is referencing a very select group of people called the apostles. Notice their status in life.

notice what their status will be in heaven

Revelation 21:9–14 KJV 1900

9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Paul is saying here out of all people who deserves to be respected, he and the other apostles have been rejected. James is dead, Peter has been in and out of prison and Paul writing many of his letters from prison him self.

Finishing up we see in

1 Corinthians 4:14–21 KJV 1900

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

You must be a follower of Christ. The best way to be a follower of Christ is to hold close to your Bible, search it daily, and align your self with other followers of Christ.