1Corinthians 4:1-13
REMEMBER WHO YOU SERVE There were a lot of things the believers in Corinth had been taught, but had either chosen to ignore because of their carnality or thought unimportant because they didn't come from the wisdom of men. We need to remember who we serve and why, otherwise we can quickly become attracted to what is going on around us; to favorite preachers or teachers, or even to our own work as if it is the most important thing going on in our lives. The apostles were given a special ministry of unfolding spiritual truths that had been hidden. God was bringing those things to light through those men who were in the beginning of the church - "the foundation of the apostles and prophets." These men were "stewards of the mysteries of God." There are fourteen of those mysteries given in the New Testament, beginning in Matthew 13 and the last one in Revelation 17:5.
A steward does not own anything. Because of his integrity and willingness to accept responsibility, he is entrusted with more than he would have himself. His service is to manage his Master's goods and affairs. In himself, he is no more than any other person. The only thing that distinguishes a steward from other servants is that he has been found to be trustworthy, loyal, and able to be counted on to do the Master's will. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were stewards whose work was to teach spiritual truths previously hidden to the people of God. Each one had his work to do. Each one's work was different. The steward's effectiveness was not his popularity to those who listened to them, but to the Lord who had given him the responsibility to teach the truths given him. There will always be criticism of one kind or another when one speaks for God. There is no reason to be upset about other people's judgment. They have their own opinions about how to do the work of God. Let everyone do the work given them from the Lord, as unto the Lord and not unto men.
The wise steward will judge himself. What I am in my personal life, in my home life, including how I attend to my marriage and my children, and how I prepare and present the message God wants me to pass on, all affect my stewardship. It is a requirement that I personally "be found faithful." So whatever people prefer is not the point. My responsibility to God is to faithfully present to the people of God what has been given to me. The truth of God needs to be accurately interpreted and wisely applied so that those who hear can easily understand what is 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 in 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 really only known by God, who looks on the heart. It is possible, in fact quite easy, to misjudge a message and the messenger who gave it. Leave the judgment of a man and his message to God to deal with by His standard in His time. The quiet teaching of a man who has been through the suffering and disappointments, as well as the victories associated with reaching into a far corner of the harvest field, will probably be quite different from that of one who has been called to minister to large crowds. The latter's charismatic personality and commanding voice can be used effectively to benefit many. God knows the motive behind each person's labor and ministry.
The saints in the assembly at Corinth had to be challenged to live as true stewards of Jesus Christ. They were being "puffed up" in their self-importance. Contrast how they saw themselves with the actual fact of what the apostle Paul was. The grace of God had changed the Corinthians, it is true. But it was God who made this happen, not their own skill or wisdom. They apparently became successful in the community and were rich, while Paul labored with his hands so he would not "be chargeable" to any of them. They were not supporting him; he was there blessing them. They looked at themselves as kings; Paul was a prisoner, a spectacle in a tragic arena, like a theater clown to them. They were exalting themselves because of their spiritual strengths. They considered their achievements a sign of strength, in contrast to Paul's weakness, which allowed God to do the real work and accomplish the lasting goals. Angels and men saw the life and labors of Paul as if he were an actor in a play to be mocked. Those apostles were reproached for being committed to telling the world about Christ. The Corinthians seemed to be regarded as smart, skilled people compared to the apostles, who were regarded as fools.
The physical cost of faithful service for the Lord was very high for those apostles who were following in the steps of the Lord Jesus. What he experienced, they also went through. Paul labored and knew all the while he was being treated as filth and scum. The Corinthians wanted everyone to look up to them. It is not going to be easy for anyone who wants to take the Gospel to the unbelievers in the world. There have been in the past, are in the present, and will be in the future costs to pay to serve God as He intends His stewards to do His will.
The motivation that keeps those who serve the Lord at work is the love of Christ that constrains us, the fact that we are going to give an account of what we have done here in the body at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and an awareness that those who do not know Christ as their personal Savior will be eternally lost. That enables us to rise above the rejections and reproaches of fulfilling the commission we have received from the Lord.
There is a faithfulness about some that provides the incentive To keep pressing ahead as a steward of the Master who sent him A work has been given that others might understand What had been hidden before, but now is revealed to man So, all might know who the Person is in whom we believe And that they also might in true faith willingly receive Him as Savior and Lord, trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation And willing then to yield to Him in practical sanctification.
Not now only Savior, but as our Master and our Lord As High Priest and Mediator, soon will give rewards At the Judgment Seat of Christ, where He will dispense What has been consistent and fulfilled the reason we were sent Out in the first place with this spiritual task to complete As stewards, we are obliged the Master's expectations to meet There will be opposition and persecution we will have to face But in spite of those pressures, stewards move forward in faith.
There will be times when, as a human spectacle, we are seen To be completely out of touch with the world system, and seem To many, to be outdated, outmoded, and intellectually dim By those who claim to be Christians but in truth do not know Him Who is the Master and has entrusted us to continually serve; Even though there will be reproaches, we think we did not deserve Still, our motivation is love for Him, and our hope remains the same That there will be stewards raised up and go forward in Jesus' name.
"Father, I am thinking of the work to which I have been called, and am asking Thee to give Thy servant the needed discernment to know what to speak in each place, and the power to speak with true spiritual understanding. Then I will be assured the things spoken will be relevant and useful to those who hear, and will honor Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."