For those in the public light, they often describe their existence as living in a fish bowl. They often mention how they are constantly judged by tabloid journalism about their weight, look, who they are dating, and just about every aspect of their lives. As people reflected on the spiraling train wreck of Miley Cyrus' life, in her song "We Can’t Stop", she responded to her critics with the line in the song: "Remember only God can judge us" (http://www.lyricscog.com/miley-cyrus-we-cant-stop-lyrics)
1 Corinthians 4:1–5 focuses on the topic of judgment with the example of those in public eye, regarding the true nature and marks of God’s ministers. It sets forth the basic guidelines and standards by which ministers are to minister and be evaluated. It deals with what the congregation’s attitude toward the minister should be and what the minister’s attitude toward himself should be. In short, it puts the minister of God in God’s perspective. Paul makes it dear that popularity, personality, degrees, and numbers play no role in the Lord’s perspective—and that they should play no role in ours.
The concept of judging someone is both a popular mantra and in a different way, a biblical truth. Understanding the topic of judgment from considering our own actions, the actions of others and what God is going to do should not only help us properly order our own lives but at what point we should intervene in the lives of others. It balances our perceptions with how God sees things. Far from being the universal taboo of today, God has some important words to say about judging.
Using the example of a servant of God, the Apostle Paul shows us 1) How one should Judge (1 Corinthians 4:1), 2) What is Required to Judge (1 Corinthians 4:2), and 3) Who should Pass Judgment (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)
1) How one should Judge (1 Corinthians 4:1)
1 Corinthians 4:1 [4:1]This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (ESV)
The "us" to whom we are to regard here refers back to 3:22, indicating Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and, by extension, all other “fellow–workers” (cf. v. 9). Paul uses the plural in this verse to refer to the apostles and their helpers. He reminds his readers of the preceding discussion, in which Paul told the Corinthians not to boast in men, whether they were Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. He instructed them instead to look to Christ, in whom they possess all things. Further, Christ’s servants are fellow workers who are not in competition with one another (Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Vol. 18, p. 128). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
The "one" to whom is doing the regarding is a nonspecific reference that first of all applies to Christians. But in a wider sense it may also refer to unbelievers—not only to how the world should regard God’s ministers, but also to how the church should portray God’s ministers before the world. An unbeliever cannot understand the things of God, because they are spiritually discerned or appraised (2:14). We have no right to use worldly criteria—such as popularity, personality, degrees, and numbers—to make the gospel seem more appealing. We should not try to make the world see God’s humble messengers as anything but what He has ordained them to be: servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Servants (hupçretçs) means literally ‘underrower’, i.e. one who rowed in the lower part of a large ship. From this it came to signify service in general, though generally service of a lowly kind (‘subordinates’), and subject to direction, under the authority of another (Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 75). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
Christian ministers are first and above all else servants of Christ. In everything they are subordinate and subject to Him. They are called to serve men in Christ’s name; but they cannot serve people rightly unless they serve their Lord rightly. And they cannot serve Him rightly unless they see themselves rightly: as His under-slaves, His menial servants. God’s ministers are not called to be creative but obedient, not innovative but faithful.
Ministers of the gospel are also stewards of the mysteries of God. The Greek (oikonomos) for steward literally means “house manager,” a person placed in complete control of a household. The steward supervised the property, the fields and vineyards, the finances, the food, and the other servants on behalf of his master. The primary requirement for a steward is faithfulness. Stewardship demands dedication that excludes all self-interest and includes sacrificial loyalty (Luke 12:42) (Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Vol. 18, p. 129). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
Thus “servants of Christ,” emphases a humble position and their belonging to Christ alone; at the same time they are “stewards of the mysteries of God”, emphasizing both their trusted position and their accountability to God (Fee, G. D. (1987). The First Epistle to the Corinthians (p. 159). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
• Every title you have, emphasizes a position and responsibility: Titles like: Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, or even more broadly, Christian, should cause us to stop and think of the inherent responsibility that goes with the title.
Peter speaks of all Christians being “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10), but ministers are stewards in an especially important way. The minister “must be above reproach as God’s steward” (Titus 1:7), because he is entrusted with proclaiming the mysteries of God.
Please turn to Acts 20 (p.929)
A mystery (mustçrion), as used in the New Testament, is that which was hidden and can be known only by divine revelation. As a steward of God’s mysteries, a minister is to take God’s revealed Word and dispense it to God’s household. He is to dispense all of God’s Word, holding nothing back. Paul could tell the Ephesian elders:
Acts 20:20-27 [20]how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, [21]testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. [22]And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23]except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. [24]But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. [25]And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. [26]Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, [27]for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (ESV)
• The whole counsel of God refers to the entirety of God’s redemptive plan (mystery) unfolded in Scripture. Even though some parts of God’s Word were unpopular or difficult, Paul did not omit any of them in his preaching. In refusing to pass over teachings that might have offended some, Paul gave a courageous example that is a model for all who would teach God’s Word after him (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2130). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).
• The minister of God, and by extension, all Christians, are to declare, explain and live out the whole counsel of God. People may have all kinds of ideas about what the Church is to be about: from social programs, entertainment, counseling etc., but if our ministry is not about proclaiming the word of God and calling people to repentance and faith, then we miss our primary calling. People may judge our work by worldly standards and expectations, but the only Judge we should seek to please is Christ Himself.
Illustration: Faithfulness and trustworthiness have always been the mark of God’s leaders throughout the Bible. Joseph found himself in terrible circumstances, but remained faithful to his commitment to God and was trustworthy to God. Moses spent forty years in the desert as an unknown social dropout. But during that period, he remained faithful to God, and God could trust him. D. L. Moody gives us a rather modern example of what God can do with a leader who is willing to be faithful and trusted, although he may not have all of the abilities that people around him have. After Moody preached one sermon, a lady came up to him and pointed out that he had made several grammatical errors. Moody replied that he knew that his education was limited and that he himself wished that he had more education, but, nevertheless, he was willing to use the grammar he did know in winning as many people as he could to the Lord. Now that’s a picture of a steward who is faithful, not necessarily a perfectionist who is as competent in all areas of life as others could be.
If we give to God our availability, He will use whatever capability we have. We are to be faithful in using whatever gifts and abilities God has given to us. A person who is more concerned about the quality of his service rather than being a faithful steward will become somewhat paranoid over his service to the Lord. In fact, he may easily begin to see service as more of a performance for an audience of people around him rather than a ministry, with God himself as his audience. There is a big difference in ministering to people with God as the audience and performing in front of people with them as the audience. A person who does the latter will easily think he did not do well if he makes a mistake or if he doesn’t get praised. And a person can easily then begin to practice flawless performances apart from faithful service. (Staton, K. (1987). First Corinthians: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (p. 88). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.)
2) What is Required to Judge (1 Corinthians 4:2)
1 Corinthians 4:2 [2]Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (ESV)
In judging the character and actions of someone, we need to understand the proper standard of judgment. Most often factors of public opinion, charisma, personality or all kinds of subjective criteria become the primary means of judging. God has a different standard.
By far the most important quality of a good steward is faithfulness, or trustworthiness. He is entrusted with his master’s household and possessions; and without faithfulness he will ruin both. Above all, God wants His ministers, His servant–stewards, to be trustworthy. The prime requirement in an oikonomos accordingly was that he be faithful). This applies to all believers, not just apostles, as we see from the use of the word of Christians generally (1 Pet. 4:10) (Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 75). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
God desires Christian stewards be consistently obedient to His Word, unwavering in their commitment to be faithful. He does not require brilliance or cleverness or creativeness or popularity. He can use servants with those qualities, but only trustworthiness is absolutely essential. It is required. All Christians are similarly but in different ways called to this same stewardship (1 Pet 4:10) (Johnson, A. F. (2004). 1 Corinthians (Vol. 7, p. 78). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).
Please turn to Matthew 24 (p.830)
Servanthood and stewardship are inseparable from faithfulness. An unfaithful servant or an untrustworthy steward is a self–contradiction. In a series of four parables, Jesus explained to his disciples how and why they should be prepared for his coming. Here explaining the faithful & wise servant:
Matthew 24:45-51 [45]"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? [46]Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [47]Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. [48]But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' [49]and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, [50]the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know [51]and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (ESV)
• Christians should not merely keep looking for the coming of the Son of Man. Instead they should be completing the work of the Great Commission (28:19–20), as well as being prepared and expectant, because the time of Christ’s return is unknown (24:36) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1875). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
• When the Lord returns, the only absolute requirement by which He will judge His servants is faithfulness: were they true to their Lord’s commands?
Illustration: "In 1996, at the age of 25, Pastor Mark and Grace (Driscoll) started a small Bible study at their home in Seattle, the least churched city in the U.S. at the time. By God's grace, Mars Hill Church grew beyond all expectations to 13,000 people (and counting), gathered weekly across 15 locations in five states: Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. In 2012, Mars Hill was recognized as the third fastest growing and 28th largest church in the country by Outreach magazine."
On Tuesday, October 14, Pastor Mark Driscoll submitted his resignation as an elder and lead pastor of Mars Hill Church. In his resignation letter, Driscoll admits that "aspects of my personality and leadership style, have proven to be divisive within the Mars Hill context"...."Driscoll's resignation comes after several Mars Hill Church elders issued a joint letter requesting that he step down from leadership. The controversial preacher had also been accused of plagiarism in his 2013 book A Call to Resurgence, and previous titles. The Mars Hill Board of Overseers' statement on his resignation affirms that "Pastor Mark has, at times, been guilty of arrogance, responding to conflict with a quick temper and harsh speech, and leading the staff and elders in a domineering manner," (http://www.christianpost.com/news/reaction-to-pastor-mark-driscolls-resignation-includes-sadness-gratitude-from-mars-hill-church-community-128141/)
How will people judge the work that Mark Driscoll has done? He has been instrumental in a growing Church network, published several books and been a prolific conference speaker, yet with self-admitted failings. Regardless how people judge him, God has one criteria, faithfulness.
We can see his actions, and react, according to scripture, to determine his competency for ministry, but we don't know Dricoll's heart. There are appropriate human judgments, but the final status of Dricoll's ministry and heart is up to God.
3) Who should Pass Judgment (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)
1 Corinthians 4:3-5 [3]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. [4]For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. [5]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. (ESV)
Usually the hardest judgment that is made about ourselves is by ourselves. We can hear external grumblings, or accusations, but we know our own motives and effort. Even when things pass by we can remember the mistakes that were hidden.
It should be a very small thing to any of us when our ministry or our spiritual life is criticized or praised, whether by fellow Christians, by any human court, or any other human opinion. Not that I despise your judgment, but as compared with God’s, it almost comes to nothing (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1 Co 4:3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
We can benefit greatly from the counsel of a wise, spiritual friend, and sometimes even from the criticisms of unbelievers. But no human being is qualified to determine the legitimacy, quality, or faithfulness of our work for the Lord. We are not even qualified to determine those things for ourselves. Matters of outward sin are to be judged as 1 Timothy 5:19–21 indicates. But apart from the discipline of sinning servants, we can make no absolutely accurate judgment as to the faithfulness of heart, mind, and body of any servant of God.
The "Judged" in reference here means to examine are from anakrinô, which means “to investigate, question, evaluate.” It does not mean to determine guilt or innocence.
The Human court (anthrôpinçs hçmeras) mentioned literally means “human day,” that is, a day in a human court. No human being, or group of human beings, is qualified to examine and evaluate God’s servants. No Christian, and in this context especially God’s ministers, should be concerned about any such evaluation. Only God knows the truth.
• Not only is there the explicit prohibition for believers to take other believers to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-11), but the mandate of God's ministry cannot be either restricted or dictated by civil laws. We need not get legal sanction nor fear legal retribution for doing what God has mandated. We need to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's but unto God what is God's (Matthew 22:21)
In verse 4, Paul notes that he knew of no serious sin or deficiency in his own life. I am not aware/conscious of anything against myself (cf. 2 Cor. 1:12). But he knew he could be wrong in that assessment; even as an apostle he could be wrong about his own heart. He, too, needed to remember to take heed when he stood, lest he should fall (1 Cor. 10:12). Of course, he did not mean that he never evaluated his own life. He meant that he would not supplant Christ as his judge. Paul did not reject legitimate human criticisms with these words. Rather, he reminded his readers that there was only one authoritative judge and that the time for judgment had not yet come (Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). I & II Corinthians (Vol. 7, p. 60). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
Greek and Roman philosophers (e.g. Plato and Seneca) regarded conscience as passing final judgment on a man. For Paul, only God can do this. The essential ground for Paul’s clear conscience is the fact that God ‘justifies by virtue of the cross of Christ (Rom. 4:5.). So, when Paul says in verse 4 that, because there is nothing on his conscience, he is not thereby justified, he is actually pointing to the only grounds of justification and the only source of a clear conscience—Jesus Christ and him crucified (Prior, D. (1985). The message of 1 Corinthians: life in the local church (p. 63). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
• This modern era epitomized the ancient deception of a clear conscience. If you ask people today are they in and of themselves a good person, nearly all would affirm this. Yet the law of God shows how we all fall short of the glory of Christ. Conscience in and of itself can deceitfully dam.
Regarding the ultimate evaluation of all human work and the unknown as to the standing as to that work, he continued explaining to the Corinthians, but/yet I am not thereby/by this acquitted. He was not proud that he knew of nothing wrong, and he did not worry because he might be mistaken. His own evaluation, favorable or unfavorable, made no difference.
• There are two dangerous extremes that people often succumb. They are either paralyzed by guilt that they are immobilized. Or, they are so self-unaware, that they sin without appropriate remorse. Paul is going to show how we should be properly judged.
The only evaluation that makes a difference is the Lord’s: It is the Lord who judges/ examines me. Only His examination counts. Paul had long followed the counsel he gave to Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God” (2 Tim. 2:15). He was not concerned about presenting himself to others for approval, or even to himself for approval, but only to His Lord. Christ is the Lord of the conscience and is the one who can evaluate it properly (Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 211). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
• Imagine how freeing it would be to be only concerned about God's judgment? We often live to shallow standards when we live to others expectations. Neither our parents, our boss our partners or even our own expectations really amount to much. When we live to please God, every task, effort and action will result in the most God glorifying, life transforming end.
Verse 5 concludes with the fact that God has a day planned when He will bring to light the things hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes/motives of the heart. Those two phrases refer to the attitudes of the inner person, which only God can see. The things now hidden in darkness refer to things presently unknown to us. What is "hidden in darkness” are the acts and motives concealed in the inner recesses of a person’s mind and heart. In Hebrew poetic style (cf: Pss 18:10; 22:1), Paul says the Lord will “expose the motives of men’s hearts” in explanation of his statement “He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness.” (Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 211). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Ultimate judgment of every kind, including the evaluation of His servants’ ministries, will be by Him and in His time. God’s people, including the ministers themselves, have no business to pronounce/pass judgment before [that] time. This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE with the NEGATIVE PARTICLE, which usually means to stop an act already in process (cf. Matt. 7:1–5). These factious groups or the adherents of the false teachers had already judged Paul. (cf. 2 Cor. 10–12) (Utley, R. J. (2002). Paul’s Letters to a Troubled Church: I and II Corinthians (Vol. Volume 6, p. 53). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.).
We see only the outside, the visible, and cannot know what is hidden in the recesses of the soul. The logic may be presented thus: “Since my judgment belongs to the Lord, therefore refrain from all premature decisions respecting me (Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Kling, C. F., & Poor, D. W. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 Corinthians (p. 89). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software).
He is not saying that they should suspend judging altogether. Surely not! When a pastor or teacher fails to adhere to the truth of God’s Word and in his teachings and life goes contrary to the Scriptures, the church must judge. But Paul forbids criticizing a person whose teaching and conduct are in harmony with Scripture (Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Vol. 18, p. 132). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
Please turn back to 1 Corinthians 3 (p.953)
In regards to eternal standing before Christ, for every believer “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Before the throne of God, all Christians will have some reward and some praise. Who will receive much and who will receive little only God knows:
1 Corinthians 3:8-17 [8]He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. [9]For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. [10]According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. [11]For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12]Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- [13]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. [14]If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. [15]If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. [16]Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? [17]If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)
• How will we be judged as a people if our work as Canadians is to introduce assisted suicide? We already fund abortion and the Supreme Court is hearing cases one again to legalize assisted suicide, which is already legal in Quebec and liked in public opinion. How do you think our work in Canada will be regarded by God in lieu of verse 17?
We do know that the rewards given will not be based on the degrees behind our name, the numbers we have preached to or witnessed to, the programs we have planned and directed, the books we have written, or even the number of converts won to Christ through us. It will be based on one thing alone: the purposes/motives (boulç, “secret thoughts”) of [our] hearts.
One of the marvelous experiences we will have on that day will be to realize that many dear saints, completely unknown to the world and perhaps hardly known to fellow believers, will receive reward after reward after reward from the Lord’s hands—because their works were of gold, silver, and precious stones. Their hearts will have been pure, their works will have been precious, and their rewards will be great. In fact, you cannot see into people’s hearts; you cannot begin to judge their motives. Only God can do that: People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord sees into the heart (1 Sam. 16:7) (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 583). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.).
Because God will reward according to the purposes/motives of the heart, our single purpose in life should be that, “whether, then [we] eat or drink or whatever [we] do, [we] do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). That motive should determine everything we think and do.
(Format note: Some base commentary from MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1984). 1 Corinthians (pp. 95–103). Chicago: Moody Press.)
