1 Cor 4:1-5 Being Servants and Stewards of God
We have covered the first 3 chapters of 1 Corinthians over the last 10 weeks. Today is our 11th Sunday on this book.
• I believe by now we have an idea of the problems the church in Corinth is facing.
• Surely this is not a happy thing for Paul, who founded the church barely 5-6 years ago.
• It would not be easy for him to see the church fragmented by divisions and with other problems which we will be covering in the following chapters.
He was mainly addressing the PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH
• I believe he must have written both 1 and 2 Corinthians with a heavy heart.
• Imagine this, we have 1 and 2 Corinthians, the longest written work of Paul directed to one congregation and addressing not doctrines of the faith but mainly problems.
• I believe we can, over time, identify with Paul’s struggles and concerns.
We are not better today. Over the centuries, we have seen the same problems happening in churches.
• God has included these letters as inspired Scriptures for the benefit of His church because we need them.
In 2 Corinthians, which is written about 1-2 years later, we see Paul covering more or less the same concerns again.
• And worst still, there were “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Cor 11:13) challenging Paul’s authority openly.
Have you been criticised, misunderstood or wrongly accused in ministry?
• Today we are going to learn from Paul, who addresses his accusers in 1 Cor 4.
• Paul moves from addressing “church problem” to a more personal problem – the attacks of some Corinthians against him, questioning his conduct and authority.
• Let us glean from the wisdom of Paul’s words.
1 Cor 4:1-5 ESV
1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But 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. 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore 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.
What do you do when you are wrongly accused?
• Paul set us a good example in his response.
(1) Understand Your Authority (where does our authority come from)
(2) Know Your Accountability (who are we accountable to)
(3) Trust in God’s Final Appraisal, not men’s.
PAUL UNDERSTANDS WHERE HIS AUTHORITY LIES
• 1 Cor 4:1 “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
• He has already said earlier in 3:5 that they are “servants”.
• 3:5 “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.”
• That word used is doulos in Greek, the common word for bond-servant or slave, with an emphasis on service.
Paul uses another word here – hyperetas in Greek – which is less common and it literally means “under-rower”, which we cannot capture in English.
• An “under-rower” refers to the slaves under the deck of a ship, pulling the oars.
• They have no engines in those days, so the way to move a ship is to row it, with the help of these “under-rowers”.
• Their only responsibility is to row and to keep rowing and rowing as long as they are told to do so.
Paul’s use of this word seems deliberate. He wants to emphasize that they are subjects of their master and take orders from him.
• They have no status, unlike what the Corinthians were doing, trying to elevate their leaders to a position that is too high.
This “under-rower” is under authority. He does not give orders; he takes orders.
• Paul says this is how you should regard us - as apostles under authority.
• Whose authority? The authority of Christ, our Master - the One who has called us, and in the words of 3:5, who has “assigned us” to this task.
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Paul added one more term – we are “stewards of the mysteries of God.”
• The phrase “mysteries of God” is used commonly by Paul to describe the truth of God, which was once hidden in the past but is now revealed to us through Christ.
• See Romans 16:25-27. The mystery refers to the revelation of Christ and the Gospel, which we are now entrusted with.
• For Paul, it was exceptional. He received the call to preach the “mysteries of God” directly from the resurrected Christ himself in a miraculous encounter.
If the house stewards are tasked to handle the resources given and provide food for the household, then stewards of God are to dispense the truth of God’s Word.
• The “mysteries of God” did not originate with us. We are entrusted with it and called to teach and preach it as He has given.
4:2 “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
• This faithfulness is not just being faithful to the task, but as stewards of the “mysteries of God”, faithful to the TRUTH of God entrusted.
• Paul has been preaching and teaching the Word of God, the Gospel of Christ.
• A steward does not speak his own words but obeys the will of his Master and proclaims the truth given to him.
This is the AUTHORITY that Paul and Apollos come under. They were “assigned” to that task in Corinth by God.
PAUL KNOWS TO WHOM HE IS ACCOUNTABLE
1 Cor 4:3-4 3But 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. 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
Paul is not saying, “I don’t care how you think.” He did not say that their opinion of him is “nothing” but “it is a very small thing.”
• He is putting their criticisms or the judgment of the human court in a larger perspective.
• There is still a higher court and the verdict is not final until it reaches there.
• He explains, “I do not even judge myself, even though I am not aware of anything that I’ve done that is wrong; even though my conscience tells me I am fine, I am not thereby acquitted.” WHY?
• There is SOMEONE higher that I am accountable to. And if I am HIS servant and steward, then, He is MY MASTER! “It is the Lord who judges me.” (4:4)
So human judgments and assessments, and that includes our conscience, cannot be the ultimate judge of our character and work.
• They can be inaccurate and biased. The only One who is capable of a true judgement is God.
• 1 Cor 4:5 “5Therefore 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.”
Even if the Corinthians judge Paul, they do not have all the information about him to make an accurate assessment.
• At least in two areas, which only the Lord can reveal on that final day – (1) our hidden actions and (2) our hidden motives. Both the positive and the negative.
• (1) We will not be able to see everything that this person has done, and (2) we cannot read the purposes or the motives of his heart.
When Christ comes on that day, He will “bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” (4:5)
PAUL TRUSTS IN GOD’S FINAL APPRAISAL which is the only true appraisal.
True appraisal has to go beyond what is seen and external.
The Lord cautioned Samuel not to judge a man by his outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7).
• “God sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7b)
• The Corinthians were fascinated by the externals. We see later in 1 Cor 12 how they love to see the display of spiritual gifts, especially the prominent ones.
• They hold these people in high esteem because their gifts were visible and outstanding. Paul says, “If I have not love, I gain nothing.” (13:3)
Why external success cannot be a good assessment of our service to God?
• Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) mentioned many things that are hidden from the eyes of men that our Father will reward.
Let me quote you some - Matt 6:1-6, 16-18.
• 1“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
• 2“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
• 5“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
• 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
All these are good deeds but unseen and unknown. Let me quote you a bad deed.
• Matt 5:27 27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
On this basis alone, all our external assessments cannot be accurate.
• The faithful servant who has done many unseen acts can be greatly rewarded, while the one who has achieved great success in the eyes of the world might not receive any, because he could be a hypocrite serving for his own glory and fame.
• God judges our hidden actions and hidden motives. Very often, WHY you do something is more important than WHAT you do.
Remember what Jesus says about the scribes and Pharisees.
• Matt 23:27-28 27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
When Christ returns, he will bring to light our hidden actions but hidden motives.
• At that time “each one will receive his commendation from God.” (4:5)
• Paul is leaning towards the positive. Do that which is right and you will receive His commendation.
• Even when you are misunderstood or accused or persecuted, stay faithful to God and do His work.
• At the end of the day, we shall hear from Him: “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
IN SUMMARY
(1) Understand Your Authority (where does our authority come from)
(2) Know Your Accountability (who are we accountable to)
(3) Trust in God’s Final Appraisal, not men’s.
I appreciate the words of Paul under such circumstances.
• Being the founder of the church and yet rejected. Being true to God and yet attacked. Being innocent of any wrong and yet accused.
• And Paul remained true to them and continued to teach them the truth of God.
• He understands where his AUTHORITY comes from, he knows who he is ACCOUNTABLE to, and he trusts in God’s final APPRAISAL of his work, not the Corinthians’.
We are all servants of the same Master. We are all entrusted with the truth of God, although not in the same league as Paul.
• Let us not be discouraged by the difficulties we face. We know WHO we are serving and we know who we are answerable to.
• We will persevere in our efforts to proclaim the Gospel and build lives, and fulfil the will of God. God will take delight in what He sees.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your grace and strength to help us be faithful servants and stewards of your truth. May our service brings you delight.
Let us serve you well in the spheres of influence you have given us. Make us your good servants and stewards. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
You can listen to the audio sermon with slides at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njYo_xIW7N4
Earlier audio sermons are available at https://tinyurl.com/KTCC-EnglishService
