An Error in Judgement

1 Corinthians 4:1-6

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favour of one against another.[1]

One of the most popular games played among contemporary Christians is the game of “comparisons.” In this game, we compare ourselves to one another, almost always winning, because we inevitably view ourselves in a favourable light (except when complaining about the unfairness of life). One reason we are so avid in playing this game is that we always we win. No one is as good as I am, at least when I do the judging. Of course, when you do the judging, no one is quite as good as you are. For that reason, I consider my judging to be better than your judging. However, you are probably biased toward your own judging. Because we write our own rules, we enjoy playing the game; and since we are both the referee and the umpire, we always win.

Among the people of God, a dreadful confusion exists concerning the issue of judging one another. Many Christians have imbibed deeply at the well of contemporary political philosophy, though many are ignorant of the Word of God. Modern Christians are adamant that no one can judge their actions, despite repeated instruction in the Word to hold one another accountable. Consequently, benighted saints become belligerent whenever they suspect that someone questions their actions. Often, these same saints do not hesitate to pronounce judgement on the service of others, questioning not only their actions but also their motives for service.

The proscription against judging one another does not imply flabby indifference to the moral condition of others nor blind renunciation of a true and serious appraisal of those with whom we share life and worship. What is unconditionally demanded is that such evaluations must be subject to God’s judgment, which falls on those who are judgemental, so that haughtiness, hardness and blindness to one’s own faults are confessed, and a readiness to forgive and to intercede for the welfare of others is safeguarded. The emphatic way in which Jesus extended the law of love in this direction has far-reaching consequences. It means that the Church cannot practice discipline with merciless severity. It means that Christians cannot take up a hard, contemptuous and supercilious attitude towards those whom it regards as sinners. It means that Church discipline must make predominant, if not exclusive, use of means that promote edification and pastoral care.

In the text, Paul specifically writes about being judged in a quasi-judicial manner, and perhaps even in a quasi-judicial setting, by members of the Corinthian congregation. He uses a term that suggests a judicial investigation. The actions of the people who were intent on investigating Paul betrayed an imperiousness that sought with all its powers to enforce its own experience as a norm on others.

Paul cautions that we must avoid judging motives in service to Christ. It is one thing to evaluate doctrine, weighing it against the written Word of God. However, it is another thing when we judge the motives of fellow worshippers as they seek to serve the Lord. If we attempt to hale them before the court of our own justice, we will discover that we are simply wrong, wrong, wrong. We are incapable of rendering accurate judgement of motives, or even of judging attitudes.

Caution Against Pronouncing Judgement — I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. Paul was forced to defend his ministry among the Corinthians. This sad situation arose despite his long service to them. He was God’s instrument who had brought them to the new birth; he brought the message of life to them. Soon after the words of our text, the Apostle will refer to himself as their father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel [1 Corinthians 4:15].

In this letter, Paul accepts the sorrowful burden of confronting the wickedness of the Corinthian Christians. He laments that he is unable to address them as spiritual people [1 Corinthians 3:1]. Though the Apostle does not question whether they were saved (they were indeed Christians). They were scrupulous in their religious devotions, but they were nevertheless unspiritual. Their worship was factitious, they were exclusive in their service to one another, and they were increasingly arrogant. They were unashamedly sectarian in their worship, and in order to ensure that a church would continue to exist in the city of Corinth, Paul found it necessary to point out their error.

In their exaggerated view of their own self-importance, some Corinthian leaders tried to exalt themselves through demeaning the Apostle. They depicted him as an embarrassment because he was unpolished and unspectacular in his speech. They derided his theology as being out of date and lacking in depth; they saw themselves as progressive. Paul responded with deep humility, both for himself and for his fellow servants of Christ who were being appropriated by those who were dividing the church.

The Corinthians were choosing sides—some claiming to follow Peter, some avowing allegiance to Apollos, and some claiming to adhere to Paul’s teaching. Instead of dividing one another over preachers, the Corinthians needed to recognise that the servant of Christ is but an “under-rower” and a “household manager.” Focus briefly on the first verse of the text where Paul speaks of ministers in general, and of Apollos, Peter and himself in particular, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

When Paul refers to servants of Christ, he uses a Greek term that is only rarely translated into English by the word servant or minister. The word is different from the word that is commonly translated servant or minister. In 1 Corinthians 3:5, Paul states that he and Apollos are servants— diákonoi, or transliterating into English, deacons. However, the word used in our text is the word huperétas, which is often translated officer. This word originally was used of an “under-rower,” referring to a slave rowing on the lowest level of a trireme, a Roman galley. At the time of this letter, the word referred to anyone under authority—from a menial household servant to a junior officer in the military.

Throughout the four Gospels, the word refers to the officers of the various guards [e.g. Matthew 5:25; Mark 14:54, 65; John 7:45, 46]. In another instance, it is used of the attendant who handed the scroll to those reading in the synagogue services [Luke 4:20]. John Mark was the assistant to Paul and Silas [Acts 3:5]. The word here indicates Paul’s subordinate position to Christ. Paul does not set policy, but he announces policy as Christ dictates. Paul does not create doctrine, but he declares truth that Christ reveals. Quite literally, the word servant, in this text, refers to one who acts under direction of another, asking no questions. The servant, or minister, does what he is appointed to do without hesitation, reporting to the One who appointed him and who is also over him.

Christians sometimes refer to the pastor as their “minister.” The pastor is not your “minister”; the pastor is the “servant of Christ.” Pastors are servants of Christ; they are not servants of the church. Though they are servants of Christ, they are servants to the churches. Paul later identifies himself, Peter and Apollos as your servants for Jesus sake [2 Corinthians 4:5]; nevertheless, he is careful to distinguish that the preacher is Christ’s minister, appointed by God and answerable to Him for service within the church.

The issue is important precisely because we tend to imagine that we “hire” the pastor. Consequently, if we “hire” someone, we can fire that one. This is reflected in the language of evangelicals whenever they seek pastoral leadership. We often speak of “calling” a pastor, leaving the unfortunate impression that responsibility for securing pastoral leadership rests on us. I remind you, however, that Christ appoints whom He wills to lead His churches. The congregations receive those whom Christ appoints.

The Apostle also refers to the preachers as stewards of the mysteries of God. Steward is a term that is not always understood today. People might think of a purser on a ship, but the steward was a household manager; or, we might say that the steward is a housekeeper. Though the steward was a slave, he was appointed over the other slaves to administer the household. The steward was in charge of administration for the household or the estate. He controlled the staff and he issued the supplies. Nevertheless, however extensive his control over the household staff, he was still a slave to the Master of the house or estate. Perhaps the Holman Christian Standard Bible captures the meaning more accurately by translating the phrase as managers of God’s mysteries.

The church is the household of faith [Galatians 6:10] and the servants of Christ are to be the stewards responsible for sharing God’s wealth with the family [Matthew 13:52]. According to our text, the servants of Christ are responsible to oversee the mysteries of God. The servants of Christ—pastors—are not supernatural in their knowledge, but they are responsible to teach the people of God the great truths concerning the Gospel of Christ. God’s mysteries point to Christ crucified and raised to life [Colossians 2:2].

Paul meticulously details his understanding of this mystery in Colossians 1:24-26. I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Though crucified because of our sin, Christ was raised from the dead and he now lives. He is indeed alive, risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father, but He also lives among His holy people.

The Only Judgement that Counts — It is the Lord who judges… Though Christians may criticise one another and call motives into question, the Word gives no comfort to church members who do so. We are to be discerning, but discernment speaks of holding one another accountable for actions and assessing teachings contrary to the Word of God. Christians can, and do, make judgements concerning the veracity of preachers. We often judge the style of the preaching, the delivery of sermons, and even the manner of dress. However, those judgements really don’t amount to much. We sometimes even judge ourselves. Such self-judgement likely doesn’t make much of an impact in our individual ministries, however. Ultimately, there is only one judgement that counts.

Paul did not get upset when people criticised him; he knew that the judgement of the Master was far more important than anything any mere moral could say. This is why he says, with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. Literally, Paul speaks of “man’s day” when he refers to judgement by members of the congregation. In employing this term, “man’s day,” Paul is contrasting the Day of the Lord [1 Corinthians 1:8; 3:13] with man’s day—God’s judgement with man’s assessment.

Paul was confident in the face of mortal judgement because he knew that nothing was amiss either in his life or in his ministry. Therefore, he contended, I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. Nevertheless, though he knew of no missteps in his life, he did not offer that as an excuse. We do not really know ourselves. Our motives and our attitudes become confused, and sometimes we do the right thing with the wrong motive, or with the best of motives do the wrong thing. There can be a fine line between a clear conscience and a self-righteous attitude.

That led the Apostle to recognise that there is really only one judgement that counts, and that is God’s judgement. Thus, he asserts, it is the Lord who judges me. There is a divine evaluation of the service of each Christian ongoing. We know through study of the Word and we are judged by Scripture. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. As we read the Word, and as we meditate on what the Word says, our motives and attitudes are being judged so that we are compelled to understand what pleases God and what we are doing.

At other times, fellow Christians may lovingly help us to face and confess sin. Jesus taught us how to deal with a brother or sister who is sinning. You will recall the passage that teaches us, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector [Matthew 18:15-17].

However, when Paul dismisses judicial proceedings questioning his service to the Lord, he is not referring to loving confrontation or even to disquiet arising from his own study of the Word; he looks forward in the knowledge that ultimately it is the Lord who appoints each Christian to the service God determines is necessary for that saint and that is beneficial to the congregation where that saint serves. It is the One who appoints us to service that will examine what we have done and what we have accomplished. His reference here is to the day when each Christian must stand before the Judgement Seat.

The Word of God speaks of several judgements that have either already taken place or that will be accomplished at some point in the future. Sin was judged at the Cross of Calvary. The Lord Jesus presented His life as an offering because of sin, thus judging sin through the sacrifice of Himself [see Colossians 2:13-15]. That judgement is now past and there can be no question but that sin is awful in the eyes of Holy God.

According to Christ’s teaching, there will be a judgement of sinful nations at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation [Matthew 25:31-46]. The final judgment of the lost at the conclusion of the Millennial reign of Christ [Revelation 20:11-15] is also prophesied. However, in the text Paul speaks of yet another judgement—a judgement of Christians.

Christians will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ—the Bema. This judgement is not a judgement of sin, for sin has already been judged at the Cross. It is not a judgement to determine whether one is saved or lost, for that determination is made when one receives the sacrifice of Christ and believes in Him. This is not a judgement of the nations, since that occurs at the end of the Tribulation period. Neither is this judgement one that exposes the sin of the wicked sinner before he or she is eternally incarcerated—that judgement occurs at the conclusion of the Millennium.

The Judgement Seat of Christ appears to be a judgement at the time of the Rapture, when rewards for service are given. When Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we must all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, he is addressing Christians. It is an iteration of Romans 14:10, attesting that we will all stand before the Judgement Seat of God. The judgement before the Judgement Seat is described in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

These verses indicate that the purpose of this judgement is to glorify the Saviour. Christ is returning to be glorified in His saints and to be marvelled at among all who have believed [2 Thessalonians 1:10]. The glory that properly belongs to Jesus our Lord is revealed through the salvation of sinners, and it will be eternally demonstrated in the redeemed. His sacrificial death is demonstrated to have been effective by the redemption of the lost, and His resurrection from the dead is revealed to have resulted in the justification of those who have believed. Indeed, we who are the redeemed of Christ will find ourselves lost in awe before His majestic presence at His return. Should we not worship now, permitting ourselves to be lost in wonder, admiration and marvel before the grace we have received from Him and before the majesty that we even now share with Him?

As Christians, we have a sure foundation, which is Christ the Lord. Our faith is in Him who gave Himself for our sin and triumphed over death. As we labour for Christ, we are building on that foundation. I have often said, and it bears repeating, that whenever we honour God through exalting His Name, worshipping before His majesty, we are adding gold to the building that is being built.

I have long loved the picture painted in the words of Malachi concerning God’s awareness of the speech of His people. Those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name [Malachi 3:16].

What an encouragement! God knows and is keeping a record of each time we honour Him; He even knows when we want to honour Him. Though we may sometimes imagine that we are forgotten, that no one knows the good we do or the good we long for, God knows and maintains an eternal and perfect record of our desire and of our witness.

Under the Law of Moses, the redemption of the firstborn required a payment of silver [e.g. Leviticus 27:6; Numbers 18:16]. The transaction prefigures an exchange that takes place each time we speak of the sacrifice of Christ, inviting others to faith in Him. Whenever we tell our friends and family of the sacrifice of Christ, whenever we pray for the salvation of lost family members and lost friends, whenever we testify about Christ’s love and mercy, we are adding silver to the building that is being erected.

God speaks of those who are redeemed as His treasured possession—His jewels. Again, through Malachi, God says of the redeemed, they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him [Malachi 3:17]. What a beautiful picture of the way God sees each of us who have been born into His Family. You are not merely a name to God, but you are His prized possession—redeemed to the glory of God and thus His treasured possession.

Do you live in such a way that God is glorified? Do you seek the salvation of others, praying for them to believe and telling them of Christ? Is there some someone who today is a Christian through your prayers and through your witness? You have provided gold, silver and precious jewels that will be revealed to the glory of God and to the praise of Christ the Lord at His return.

There are, tragically, too many of the professed saints of God who live for a purpose other than to honour the Lord Christ. Their lives are built upon the foundation of Christ the Lord, and for that, we must be thankful. However, they have filled their life with the wood of self-exaltation. They seek what glorifies them, instead of what glorifies the Master. Their lives exhibit the hay that represents the accumulation of things that shall pass away with this life. They have no precious jewels, but instead, they have only the straw of friends—friends from whom they will be eternally separated.

Before the Judgement Seat of Christ, our work will be tested. Only that which is eternal shall survive. Self-aggrandisement, things of this life and friendships that are not based upon the shared life of Christ will not survive. Before His Bema, that which is not eternal will be removed from the life of each Christian so that only that which is eternal will remain to the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason Paul says, if anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. There will be smoky Christians, saved as through fire.

Whether I have been faithful to the work Christ assigned, or whether my labour was merely an occupation of my time, will be made evident at the Judgement seat of Christ. In a similar way, whether you have been faithful to the work God assigned will be evident when you stand before that great Bema. Either He will be glorified through your faithful service, or as He removes the dross so that what truly matters remains.

All that I have said concerning the judgement of Christians, dismissing human judgement of our service to God and cautioning against even judging our own work, must not lead us to adopt a self-righteous independence of one another within the church. The congregation to which you belong is a family; and family members help one another to grow strong. As members of this family, we are responsible to speak the truth in love, assisting one another to grow into Christ [see Ephesians 4:15].

When I am confronted by a member of the family expressing concern about an action or an attitude, the one confronting me is either right or he is wrong. Nevertheless, the confrontation provides an opportunity to strengthen truth. If the one confronting me is right in his concern, I receive an opportunity to correct what is wrong. If he is wrong, then I have an opportunity to help him by informing him of what I am doing and why I am doing it. Either way, truth is made stronger and we have strengthened one another.

A Rebuke for Improper Judgement — Paul rebuked the Corinthians because they were judging at the wrong time, using the wrong standard, and with the wrong motive. Similarly, when we try to hold one another accountable to our own standard, we are guilty of judging at the wrong time, using the wrong standard and with the wrong motive.

If you render a judicial decision on the labour of another, your timing is off. Paul warned against pronouncing judgement before the time, before the Lord comes [verse five]. When Jesus returns, He will evaluate our work and examine our lives. His judgement is perfect. Therefore, wait. None of us has the ability to see what is in the heart. We cannot see the motive of brothers and sisters, and we are therefore incapable of rendering a true judgement. When you judge the service of another, you are “playing God.” We must be cautious that we don’t fall into the trap of assuming privileges that only God has.

When we attempt to evaluate the ministry of a fellow believer, we are judging by the wrong standard. In verse six, Paul cautioned the Corinthians against applying their own standard. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written. The Corinthians had been comparing servants of Christ using their own personal preferences and prejudices instead of evaluating the faithful declaration of the message of God’s Word. If you wish to evaluate my ministry, apply the only standard that counts—faithfulness to the Word of God.

You may sometimes find that you do not like the mannerisms of a particular servant of the Lord. Perhaps you do not like his voice, the length of his sermons, or the way in which he conducts his ministry. Regardless of your preferences, you must take care that you do not assume the position of the Master in evaluating the impact of that servant’s labour or questioning the motives for his service.

A pastor friend laboured in Vernon, British Columbia. When he accepted that pastorate, he devoted himself to prayer. The congregation doubled in size within the first two years of his service, undoubtedly justifying his ministry of prayer. Some deacons within that church decided that he wasn’t a “real minister” because he did not spend enough time representing the church in the community or participating in the activities of the ministerial association. They prevailed upon the congregation to dismiss that man. Today, they have their desire, and the congregation is again tiny and stagnant.

In the years of my service to the churches of Canada, my ministry has been primarily to fractured churches. Among those churches, I have often been compelled to face Christians who decided that I was not conducting my own ministry according to their ideal. They wanted to “run” the show, or they wanted their minister to be seen as prestigious in the community or in the denomination, or they wanted their minister to spend seventy hours a week taking care of what they were unwilling to do and yet preach like Chuck Swindoll or W. A. Criswell each Sunday. I have learned to quit worrying about the assessment of such brilliant people and continue leading through teaching the Word. I am always aware that I answer to Him who appointed me for my service.

From time-to-time I receive notices of openings for pastors among the churches. The pulpit committees often write out in great detail their “requirements” for a minister. I observe that often their requirements exceed those that God has set. The Bible is quite clear on the standard required of God’s servant. We do not need to devise new standards. Nevertheless, it has become embarrassingly obvious that the standard for pastoral service among the churches of our land is today characterised by credentials and connections, which are of greater importance to pulpit committees than are character and calling.

When we attempt to assess the ministry of another, we usually judge with the wrong motive. Paul was concerned that the separate factions represented among the Corinthians were tearing down servants of God in order to build up their favourite. He warns them against becoming puffed up in favour of one against another [verse six]. The motive of these saints was exposed as unspiritual. They were actually promoting division through becoming partisan to the point of tearing down one man in favour of another. Their hearts were full of pride that was destroying the congregation.

Though I have spoken primarily of judging the service of preachers, the message applies to each Christian. You received a gift or gifts from the Spirit of God when you became a child of God. Your gifts are intended to build the Body of Christ, and you have considerable discretion in the exercise of those gifts. No one should presume to judge the ministry of another, questioning the motive for service or questioning the effectiveness of the labour performed. We must strengthen one another and seek unity in our labours so that Christ is glorified.

For too long, the churches of our Lord have been reduced to mere organisations. For too long, the churches of our Lord have hired “ministers” and fired “ministers” as some committee thought necessary. Isn’t it about time that we began to practise biblical Christianity? Isn’t it about time that we actually began to build one another and encourage one another? You really don’t strengthen me when you try to hold me to your standard, and I certainly do not strengthen you when I try to hold you to my standard. However, when we each encourage the other to adhere to Christ’s standard, the Body is made stronger and He is glorified among His holy people.

I do not want to suggest that the theological concepts of the “priesthood of believers” and “soul competency” may be distorted to support idiosyncratic, personal interpretations of the Bible, or to prohibit churches from exercising discipline to remove unrepentant offenders. But neither do I wish to see the churches migrate to the opposite extreme that attempts to micromanage the service of those whom God appoints.

There must be a balance in the Christian Faith, and it is that balance that I wish to see implemented here. I encourage mutual respect in a spirit of Christian humility as the ideal we should each seek within the Body. I encourage a spirit of mutual edification as we each work to make one another strong, instead of trying to promote our own ideas without regard for the benefit of the church and the glory of God. I encourage each of us to aspire to a life of service that exemplifies the Spirit of Christ within us.

Of course, such respect and service is an impossibility if you do not have the Spirit of Christ. If you have never been born from above, you do not have that Spirit and you cannot have that Spirit until you have trusted the message of life. The Word of God declares, if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart one believes and is declared right with God, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved [Romans 10:9, 10]

In penning these words, the Apostle concluded by citing the Prophet Joel who stated that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved [Romans 10:13]. How shall you call on the Name of the Lord? Believe that He died because of your sin and believe that He lives to declare you right with the Father. Believe that He will receive you. Then, looking to Him, ask Him to take control of your life, forgiving your sin and accepting you into His Family. Do it today; do it now. Amen.

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[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 2001. Used by permission. All rights reserved.