Serving As Herald Of His Coming
Nature of True Apostleship
Servants Of Christ
Stewards Of The Mysteries of God
Paul brings this first section of his letter to a close by telling the readers how they are to think of the apostles. Paul used two different words to describe the apostles in 4:1, and they show the contrast of the relationship the apostles had with God and also the relationship they had with the church. The word translated “servants” came from the description of a particular Roman slave. On the great galley ships there were slaves whose work was to row the ship. Those slaves who were on the lower bank of oarsmen were called “under-rowers.” They labored only as the master directed. Paul felt that he and the other apostles did only as God directed them as His servants. In a sense, every Christian needs to see himself or herself in this relationship with God, whatever our position in the work.
The secret things of God refers to God’s wisdom, the message of the Cross known only by the Spirit’s revelation (2:7–10).
The second word Paul used was translated “steward.” In contrast to the “under-rower,” the steward was a slave with great authority and large responsibility in the household, having to direct activities and to make decisions. Paul also felt that he and the other apostles had been given authority by God to preach the gospel and to give leadership in the churches. In this role they were accountable to God for how they handled their responsibility.
Stewards are to be trustworthy
Jesus is the final Judge of the Stewards
Don’t bother about human judgment
Stewards are not even competent to judge themselves!
Jesus will judge all
Apostle John As An Example
He was humble and faithful
John was called and His Ministry was rooted in the scripture
1 Corinthians 4
PAUL COUNSELS HIS BELOVED CHILDREN / 4:1–21
The discussion in chapter 3 regarding the status of ministers of the gospel led Paul to further explain how believers should regard their ministers. The leaders (himself, Apollos, Peter, or others) were never to be the focus of anyone’s loyalty. They do not have supernatural powers, nor do they advance their own doctrines. Their authority is given and limited by the Master—Jesus Christ.
TRUSTWORTHY
Paul and the other church leaders were “servants of Christ” (4:1). Christ’s true servants prove themselves through their personal character and the content of their teaching. Over a period of time, servant-leaders must demonstrate both aspects of their calling. Paul knew that leaders in the church played crucial roles in God’s plan, but he also knew the difference between ability and usability. The Corinthians were arguing over credentials; Paul wanted them to listen to those who were actually serving them in Christ’s name. He wasn’t worried about his declining popularity. He was concerned about the true spiritual health of fellow Christians he loved.
How does someone get your attention as a Christian leader? Are you more impressed by a person’s image or the evidence of personal integrity? What servant-leader for Christ has made the deepest impact on your life? Take time to thank God for that person.
4:1–2 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. The believers ought not to be boasting about “their” leader (3:21). Instead, Paul wrote, think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. As “servants of Christ,” these leaders served their Master and did exactly what he told them to do. As “stewards of God’s mysteries,” these leaders acted as managers of a household, caring for the members and dispensing the provisions as needed. Wealthy households often would have stewards who managed the family resources and ran the home. Certainly, a person with that much responsibility should be found trustworthy. The same was true with these “stewards” of God’s message of salvation. A steward worked under the authority of the master and reported directly to the master. Ministers of the gospel message are merely God’s servants.
Paul and the other leaders had been entrusted with “God’s mysteries.” The word “mysteries” refers to “God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (2:7 NIV)—the mystery of the plan of salvation. These mysteries cannot be discovered or comprehended by human wisdom, but they have been entrusted to God’s workers to be carefully and responsibly taught to others.
WHAT DOES CHRIST THINK?
Paul rejected human judgments on his ministry. This may appear odd at first. Was he that self-confident? Didn’t he care what others thought? Actually, Paul cared far more about what Christ might say about his ministry than about anyone else’s evaluation—even his own self-evaluation. He wasn’t claiming unaccountable authority. Rather, he was telling the Corinthians that his faithfulness, as well as theirs, eventually would be measured by Christ himself.
Paul’s candor clarifies two significant temptations to be resisted by anyone in ministry. The first is to rely too heavily on the approval or disapproval of others. The second is to rely too heavily on self-rationalizations. We can justify almost any behavior. With the support of others, we may even behave scandalously. But final accountability comes from Christ. When facing criticism or praise, pray for the capacity to see things from God’s perspective.
4:3–4 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. The Corinthians battled over the preacher whom they judged to be the best or the message that they liked most, but Paul dismissed their judgment entirely. Human judgment was as worthless before God as human wisdom (2:6). Because he had been called by God to serve, Paul owed allegiance to God alone, and he looked to God alone to judge his performance. As a steward serves the master of the estate, so Paul served God. Paul did not concern himself with what any group of people thought of his teaching style or his message. Paul did not even depend on his own self-evaluation—I do not even judge myself. When he did look within, Paul could honestly say that he had a clear conscience, but that did not mean he was innocent. The Lord alone could make that pronouncement. Paul was accountable to God and would be judged by God alone.
PLEASING GOD
The New Testament illustrates the importance of pleasing God, not people. The secret to pleasing God is faith, obedience, and service. (Verses are quoted from NLT.)
Reference
Key Phrase
Significance
John 8:29
“Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will realize that … I do nothing on my own, but I speak what the Father taught me.’ ”
Believers are to follow totally, just as Christ did:
2 Corinthians 5:9
“So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body.”
Believers should aim always to please God in their words and actions.
Galatians 6:8
“Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.”
Believers are assured of great reward when they live to please and honor God.
Ephesians 5:10
“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Believers will be shown what God wants them to do if they ask him.
Colossians 1:9–10
“We ask [God] to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others.”
Believers can ask God for wisdom to help them live to honor and please him.
1 Thessalonians 2:4
“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.”
Believers must always focus on pleasing God; then even if they don’t please people, they know that their consciences are clear.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
“Finally … we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God.”
Believers are urged to please God because of what Jesus has done for them.
Hebrews 11:6
“It is impossible to please God without faith.”
The most important ingredient to pleasing God is faith that trusts him for salvation.
4:5 So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due. The Corinthian believers had expended much energy on making judgments concerning various leaders. Paul explained that God alone could judge the leaders because he alone knows the deepest secrets and private motives. Human beings cannot do that, so they should be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. People can see only the outside, but God can discern a person’s heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A minister may appear to be a faithful servant but be harboring pride in his heart. At the same time, another minister may not be flamboyant or outwardly successful yet be a sincere person of God. One group of believers may appear to be sincere, all the while harboring envy and dissension. Other believers may not appear to have much in the world’s estimation yet be filled with God’s Spirit and manifest his gifts.
Believers, therefore, ought not be making such judgments. This will happen when the Lord comes, and then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due (see also 2 Corinthians 5:10). At the Second Coming, those who have been faithful, as judged by God himself, will receive praise and reward from him.
Blessed is God’s ambassador who is not in bonds—bonds of habit, shackling sins of flesh or spirit, bonds within or bonds without, in his own family or church or among the ecclesiastics over him, bonds that quench the Spirit and stifle his message until he is a parrot instead of a prophet.
Vance Havner
THE RIGHT JUDGE
It is tempting to judge fellow Christians, evaluating whether or not they are good followers of Christ. But only God knows a person’s heart, and he is the only one with the right to judge. Paul’s warning to the Corinthians should warn us today. We are to confront those who are sinning (see 5:12–13), but we must not judge who is a better servant for Christ. When you judge someone, you invariably consider yourself better—and that is arrogant.