Introduction
A. A wealthy Texan was in the habit of giving his dad unique gifts on Father’s Day. One year it was lessons on hang-gliding. The year before that it was the entire record collection of Slim Whitman’s hits. But this past year he felt he had outdone himself. He purchased a rare kind of talking bird that could speak five languages and sing “The Yellow Rose of Texas” while standing on one foot. The talented bird cost ten thousand dollars, but he felt it was worth every penny. This would be a Father’s Day gift his dad would never forget. A week after Father’s Day he called his father. “Dad, how did you like the bird?” His father responded, “It was delicious!”
1. Lets turn to 1 Corinthians 4:1 - 2
II. Body
A. First: Count ministers for what they are
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1. This should say
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
Let a man so consider us, as slaves of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
a. The word translated servant or slave is a Greek word which means under-rower
(1) This refers to the slaves who sat below deck and manned an oar
(2) This was the means by which a ship was pushed through the sea
(3) In the movie, Ben Hur, Judah Ben Hur was sentenced to be a slave on such a ship
(4) The slave rower was chained to his oar
b. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the master of the ship
(1) All the slaves on the ship are His property
(2) Their one function in this life is to serve the ship master
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
Let a man so consider us, as under rowers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
c. Paul considered himself, here calling himself an under-rower, the lowest cast of slave
(1) And then only one of many under-rowers in Christ’s ship
(a) Think of me as just one of many under-rowers, galley slave
(b) One of many slaves to the master of the ship
2. Then in the next phrase Paul calls himself a steward
a. A steward was a household slave, but a slave who was intrusted to manage the master’s household
(1) Lets turn to Genesis 37:36
(a) We have to understand that Joseph was sold to traders, Midianites, and then sold to Potiphar
Genesis 37:36 (NKJV)
Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
(b) Go on to Genesis 39:1-6
(c) Joseph was elevated to steward over Potiphar’s house, and this is what it says about Joseph
Genesis 39:1-6 (NKJV)
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. {2} The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. {3} And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. {4} So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. {5} So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. {6} Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
b. Ministers are stewards of the mysteries of God
(1) The mysteries of God are those things previously not revealed in Scripture
(a) Turn to Matthew 13:11
(2) But, are revealed in the New Testament
(3) Jesus spoke of the mysteries of the kingdom
Matthew 13:11 (NKJV)
He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
(a) Turn to Romans 16:25-27
(4) Paul reveals the mystery of God in this passage in Romans
Romans 16:25-27 (NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began {26} but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith; {27} to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
(5) Ryrie says this in his note on the Roman passage: “A definition of a scriptural mystery: something unknown in times past but revealed in the New Testament. Here the mystery is the gospel of Christ. Old Testament prophecies of Messiah could now be understood, once the mystery was revealed.
(a) Return to 1 Corinthians 4:1 - 2
(6) In verse 2, Paul makes a positive statement concerning stewards
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
Let a man so consider us, as under rowers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. {2} Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
(a) A steward has many things he is responsible for
i) He is responsible to safeguard his masters home, property and family
ii) He is responsible to see that every one is fed on time
iii) He is responsible to see that his masters wishes are accomplished
(b) A minister is a steward and has the very same responsibilities as the household steward
i) The steward of a household
ii) And the steward of the gospel
iii) Must be faithful
3. Now who is a minister of the gospel thus a steward of the gospel
a. I can tell you it is not just the priests, pastors, ministers in the church
(1) It includes anyone who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit
(2) And we know that every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit
(3) Charles Spurgeon gives this illustration of faithful diligence: “A poor woman had a supply of coal laid at her door by a charitable neighbor. A very little girl came out with a small fire- shovel and began to take up a shovelful at a time and carry it to a sort of bin in the cellar. I said to the child, "Do you expect to get all that coal in with that little shovel?" She was quite confused by my question, but her answer was very striking, "Yes sir, if I work long enough." Make up for your lack of ability by abundant continuance in well-doing, and your life-work will not be trivial. The repetition of small efforts will accomplish more than the occasional use of great talents.”
(a) But, some will say, that’s we hired a minister
i) Pastor
ii) Preacher
iii) Priest
(b) We hired a minister so that he is responsible
i) That is not our responsibility
ii) Its his responsibility
(c) Sorry, but the Great Commission applies to every believer
(d) And it is required in stewards that one be found faithful
(e) While you are going, make disciples
(f) Newsweek (11/19/90) ran an article titled "Letters in the Sand," a compilation of letters written by military personnel to family and friends in the States during the Gulf War. One was written by Marine Corporal Preston Coffer. He told a friend, "We are talking about Marines, not the Boy Scouts. We all joined the service knowing full well what might be expected of us." He signed off with the Marine motto, Semper Fi, Latin for "always faithful." The Bible says, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful"
i) Well, lets turn to 1 Corinthians 4:3
B. Paul doesn’t care if he is judged by human agencies
1 Corinthians 4:3 (NKJV)
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
1. In the modern vernacular, “I couldn’t care less if I were to be judged by you and any human court, in fact I don’t even judge myself”
a. Why would Paul make such a statement
b. Why would Paul be so uncaring about other peoples opinion of him
2. In the previous passage, Paul stated that he was the galley slave of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God
a. As a minister, as a slave, as a steward he is responsible to Christ only
(1) He is not responsible to any human agency
(a) Not an other individual
(b) Not even to a human court
(c) Not before a church’s congregation
(d) He is not even responsible to himself
(e) He is only responsible to his master, Jesus Christ
i) Turn to Luke 6:37
3. Our Savior said, in this passage in Luke
Luke 6:37 (NKJV)
"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
a. I have heard preachers criticizing other preachers
(1) But what does Jesus say, judge not
(2) Criticism has been rampant among evangelical churches
(a) Billy Graham has been spoken against most vehemently by otherwise conservative gospel preachers
(b) Other preachers have been roasted over the pit of the pulpit in many churches
i) I don’t need to name names we all could name a few modern preachers who have been turned on the spit
ii) I mentioned, last week, a preacher who made a really stupid statement, “you can be saved by reading the Bible, unless you read it out loud”
iii) A stupid statement, but it is not for me to judge that preacher, just his statement
iv) I am guilty of roasting a few preachers myself, God forgive me
v) Preaching has always been a learning experience for me
a) Lets return to 1 Corinthians 4:3 - 4
C. Paul admits he cannot remember anything against himself
1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV)
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. {4} For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
1. I don’t care if you judge me
a. I don’t care if I am judged in a human court
b. I don’t judge myself
(1) I can’t remember anything against me
(2) Yet, this does not justify me
(3) But, the Lord is my judge
(a) Turn to 1 Corinthians 4:16
2. Paul probably believed himself faithful
a. He says in verse 16
1 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)
Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
b. And yet he says that he doesn’t even judge himself
c. The Lord is his judge
(1) Lets turn to 1 Corinthians 4:5
D. The judge
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NKJV)
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.
1. Therefore, judge nothing before the time
a. Paul is talking about the time Jesus returns
(1) Reminds me of the judgement of the sheep and the goats when Jesus comes to judge the nations
(a) Turn to Mark 4:22
b. Jesus told His disciples, here in Mark
Mark 4:22 (NKJV)
"For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
(1) People hide what they do not want others to find out
(2) All of those things will come to light
(3) Jesus will judge everything
c. Paul cares not whether people praise him
(1) Or perhaps try to run him out on a rail
(2) All worthy praise will come from the Lord
(3) Not just for Paul
(4) But for you and I
(5) Do you long to hear the Lord say, “Well done good and faithful servant”?
(a) It is required of a steward that one be found faithful
