Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:2 KJV
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 KJV
An old round goes like this:
Row row row your boat!
Gently down the stream,
Merrily merrily merrily
Life is but a dream!
While rowing your boat down life's stream, you may feel like doing it drearily but remember life comes from your dream! So row diligently not negligently!
In 1 Corinthians 4:1 the word used for ministers is from the Greek word huperetes which occurs 20 times in the KJV and is a combination from hupo: under eretes: rower (Composite Word Study Dictionary)
Many pictures and images have been used to illustrate the Christian life of service but an under rower is a strikingly unique example.
The movie ‘Ben Hur’ comes to mind with the picture of rowing slaves. However even though Ben Hur is only historical fiction, it does paints a graphic picture of the under rower!
1 They were not in the limelight for self glory
Nobody noticed them, or admired them, or exalted them or praised them or promoted them. They were not there expecting accolades They were constantly below the scenes and occupied in doing one thing only, but that one thing was vital…keep the boat moving! All they were doing was rowing. Because they were below, they knew not where they were going. Therefore:
2 They had to trust the captain’s direction
The captain knew their destination and understood their purpose. He directed the ship and they depended on him to direct them safely to their goal. They must always bear in mind that:
3 They had to row to the captain’s beat
They therefore could not afford to be distracted. The beat kept them at the right pace to maintain the required speed to get them to their destination. They were required to follow one beat only the beat of their ship’s captain and in addition:
4 They had to row in unison
All oars went forward at the same time and all went backwards at the same time. No one was allowed to do their own thing. If they were ever to get to their destination they had to work together. It did not matter the background or upbringing of the person who sat next to you, they were all in it together for a common purpose towards a common goal and the efforts of all were required if that huge ship was ever going to even get moving.
In like manner as the ministers of God we need to recognize that
1. We are not in this ministry to make a name for ourselves but to exalt His Name!
The church has fallen prey to the world’s self exalting vice of celebrities. A “Christian Celebrity” is probably a most tragic oxymoron yet the church continues to beat itself in efforts to glorify and lift up men (and women) with flash and glitter but no saving power!
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:36 KJV
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 KJV
In the Old Testament is found a strange incident:
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:14-16 KJV
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 2 Samuel 6:20-21 KJV
Barbara Bowen explains“At the head of a great procession there would frequently be seen a half naked buffoon dancing, going through gesticulations usual on such occasions. It was all done in honor of the person to whom the procession was made, and was the office of a slave only. King David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with trumpets; and David danced before the Lord, he took the place of a slave at the head of the procession to do honor to Yahweh. Michal, King David’s wife, not understanding her husband’s motive, and thinking he had lowered himself before the people, reproached him bitterly, and despised him in her heart."
We do not pick or choose our vocation in Christ; we accept what He gives us!
2. We are to place our complete trust in Him in all things
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:3-5 KJV
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:11 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV
We do not cut and run when the going gets tough we keep on rowing!
3. We are to be obedient to Him before all else!
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 KJV
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:23-24 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:4-6 KJV
We do not pick and choose or turn up our noses, we do as He commands!
4. We have to work together in unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1 KJV
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:20-23 KJV
We do not choose who our spiritual family will be, we love His children like Him!
Every single person that the Spirit draws into our church circle is a potential part of the team and ministry to which you are called! We need to find out what they can do and where they fit!
The fast, get it now, drive thru culture of today has ill equipped our generation to wait patiently while nurturing and caring for dreams and visions.
Serving may not seem like the exciting thing you dreamed it to be but constantly applying yourself to the supposedly "boring" job produces results. Devotion to the motion results in promotion! Sowing and rowing leads to growing and going!
When you put your hand to the plough you are expected to do some responsible work!
No child of God should have, or settle for a spiritual life that is routine, monotonous, boring, and unfulfilling because your Father in Heaven is anything but routine, monotonous, boring, and unfulfilling!
