Slackers or Workers? 1Corinthians 4:1-13 Stewards are servants who are responsible to God for what they do with what He gives them. We should not be overly concerned with people's judgment because our duty is to our Master, not just to other servants. When the Lord grants us authority to perform a specific service for Him, He has the right to expect us to be faithful in doing that to the best of our ability and according to His divine directives. When we are consciously aware of our accountability to God, whether people praise us, criticize us, or ignore us becomes less significant.
Even so, we are not excused from our responsibilities as stewards because we believe we have done well and see no sin in our actions, since God is the ultimate Judge. There is a troubling tendency to judge one another, often based on our own actions and opinions. Constructive feedback from others can be valuable when offered in the right spirit and manner. We must intentionally leave the judgment of a work’s worth to God alone. He will reveal the motives of our hearts when His holiness shines a light on them in a future day. What is truly praiseworthy will come from the highest source—our Lord Jesus Christ.
There were many teachings the believers in Corinth had received, but they either chose to ignore because of their carnality or dismissed as unimportant because they didn't come from human wisdom. We must remember whom we serve and why; otherwise, we can easily become distracted by what’s happening around us—our favorite preachers or teachers, or even our own work—as if it’s the most important thing in our lives. The apostles received a special calling to reveal spiritual truths that had been hidden. God was bringing these truths to light through those men who were at the beginning of the church—"the foundation of the apostles and prophets." These men were "stewards of the mysteries of God." There are fourteen mysteries described in the New Testament, beginning in Matthew 13 and ending in Revelation 17:5.
A steward does not own anything. Because of his integrity and willingness to accept the responsibility given to him, he is trusted with more than he himself possesses. His role is to manage his Master's goods and affairs. In himself, he is no different from any other person. The only thing that sets a steward apart from other servants is that he has been found to be trustworthy, loyal, and dependable enough to fulfill the Master's will. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were stewards; their work was to teach spiritual truths that had been previously hidden from God's people. Each one had his own tasks to accomplish. Each task was different.
The steward's effectiveness was not based on his popularity among those who listened to him, but on the Lord who had entrusted him with the responsibility to teach the truths given to him. There will always be some form of criticism when someone speaks for God. There is no need to be upset over others' judgments. They have their opinions about what they believe is the right way to do God's work. Let everyone perform the work assigned to them by the Lord, as unto the Lord and not unto men.
The wise steward will judge himself. What I am in my personal life, at home—including how I care for my marriage and children—and in how I prepare and deliver the message God wants me to share all influence my stewardship. It is essential that I personally "be found faithful." Therefore, what others prefer is not the main issue. My duty to God is to faithfully present to His people what has been entrusted to me. The truth of God must be accurately interpreted and wisely applied so that those who hear can easily grasp what needs to be passed on.
These truths, taught through the ministry of God's faithful stewards, will be analyzed critically and righteously by the Lord Himself in His own time and His own way. We cannot see the motivation behind the work of a servant of God—a steward, if you will. The inward "counsels of the heart" are truly known only by God, who looks at the heart. It is even quite easy to misjudge both a message and the messenger who delivered it. Leave the judgment of a man and his message to God, who will deal with them according to His standard and timing.
The quiet teaching of a man who has experienced suffering, disappointment, and victories from reaching into a distant part of the harvest field will likely differ from that of someone called to minister to large crowds. The latter's charismatic personality and commanding voice can effectively benefit many. God understands the motives behind each person's labor and ministry.
The saints in the assembly at Corinth needed to be reminded of what it truly means to be a faithful steward of Jesus Christ. They were becoming arrogant and puffed up with their self-importance. Compare how they viewed themselves with the reality of what the apostle Paul represented. The grace of God had indeed transformed the Corinthians, but it was God who caused this change, not their own skill or wisdom. While they appeared successful and wealthy in the community, Paul labored diligently with his hands so he would not be "be chargeable" to any of them. They were not supporting him; instead, he was there to bless them.
They saw themselves as kings, while Paul was a prisoner and a spectacle in a tragic arena, like a clown in a theater to them. They exalted themselves due to their spiritual strengths, viewing their achievements as signs of their power. In contrast, they saw Paul as weak for allowing God to do the real work and accomplish lasting goals. Angels and men viewed Paul’s life and labors as if he were an actor in a play to be mocked. The apostles were reproached for their dedication to telling the world about Christ. The Corinthians appeared to be regarded as clever, skilled people compared to the apostles, who were seen as fools.
The physical cost of faithful service to the Lord was very high for those apostles who followed in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. What He experienced, they also endured. Paul labored and was aware that he was being treated as filth and scum. The Corinthians wanted everyone to look up to them. It will not be easy for anyone who wants to take the Gospel to unbelievers in the world. There have been, are now, and will be in the future, costs to pay to serve God as He intends His stewards to do His will.
The motivation that inspires those who serve the Lord is the love of Christ that compels us, the understanding that we will give an account of what we've done here in the body at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the awareness that those who do not know Christ as their personal Savior will be eternally lost. This enables us to rise above rejection and reproach in fulfilling the commission we've received from the Lord.
Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to see Apollos and himself through the lens of the Old Testament scriptures and understand what God's word says about human limitations and weaknesses. Pride is a major cause of division. He wrote with some sarcasm and irony so they could realize how poor they truly were compared to the apostles because of their immaturity and haughty attitude. They believed they had already “arrived” and did not need the ministry of the apostle.
There is a faithfulness in some that provides the incentive to continue pressing forward as a steward of the Master who sent him. Work has been given to them so that others might understand what was previously hidden but is now revealed to man, so that everyone might know who the person in whom we believe is. Also, that they might in true faith willingly accept Him as their Savior and Lord, by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and being willing to submit to Him in practical sanctification.
Not only is He our Savior, but also our Master and Lord Jesus Christ, who as High Priest and Mediator will soon give rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There, He will reveal our motives and dispense appropriate rewards based on how we have stewarded what He has entrusted to us. By His grace and power, when we fulfill the purpose for which we were sent—completing this spiritual task—we can meet the Master's expectations. Although we will face opposition and persecution, stewards press onward in faith despite those pressures.
Paul then described the condition and type of life he had to endure in order to bring the blessings of the Gospel to them. The contrast between their pride and “spiritual attainments” they believed they had achieved and the hardships he faced as an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ is striking. He “figuratively transformed” himself and Apollos as examples of the lifestyle described in the scripture, illustrating what it means to be stewards of the Gospel and of God.
The Corinthians appeared to believe that the “prosperity Gospel” was the correct path and their right to embrace it. Paul clarified that if we are to reign with Christ in the future, we must also share in His sufferings now. True Christians are observed by angels and people as they endure suffering in front of the world, which rejects the Gospel and the Savior.
Paul worked hard physically to meet his own needs and help others. He did not fight back against his tormentors but blessed them, endured what they did to him, and spoke kindly to those who opposed him, much like the Lord Jesus did when He was here. He faced ill-treatment in many ways as he continued to work faithfully for the Lord as a good steward of his Master.
There will be times when, as a human spectacle, we are seen to be completely out of touch with the world system and appear outdated, outmoded, and intellectually dim by those who oppose it; even by those who claim to be Christians but do not truly know Him. Our Master has entrusted us to continually serve Him, even though there will be reproaches we believe we do not deserve. Still, our motivation is love for Him, and our hope remains that others will be raised up as stewards to go forward in Jesus' name.
Men usually cannot see beyond what they know or have personally experienced. They fail to recognize the need unless they are willing to venture into unfamiliar territory. Stewards are sent to fields where they plant true and good seeds so that fruit can fully grow by faith into maturity. It is from God’s great power and plan to reveal that, despite whatever men might judge, scheme to own, or condemn, “HE THAT JUDGETH IS THE LORD!”
Far too often, because it doesn’t align with our thoughts, plans, and ideas, and is not in full sync with others, we make our condemnations; sometimes as quickly as our eyes can blink. Then we wonder why the work we do begins to sink under the eyes, ears, and mouths of folks who speak words of condemnation. When faced with our own pride, and it is confessed as sin, hopefully, the light will break on our own souls when we realize “HE THAT JUDGETH IS THE LORD!”
Spending a long time in pointless self-justification can bring me down. In our work and mind, hopeless frustration accomplishes nothing. If I condemn myself or others, I waste time and effort. The true call is higher; to holy adoration of Him who sees and knows beyond the words of self-vindication or condemnation. Then the results and reasons will all be revealed in His presence. At His glorification, we will again know, “HE THAT JUDGETH IS THE LORD.”
With eyes lifted upward and hands full of worthy labor, the steward and the minister constantly work together to bring to Him who owns it all – God blessed forever – everything that is His and that He has entrusted to us. He will gather the increase, the substance, and the lives that sin scattered into one holy group. That will include the saints from Corinth or here – all that matters is… “HE THAT JUDGETH IS THE LORD.”