Good Stewards
1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Paul and his companions were given duties by Jesus to be servants of Christ and were given the responsibility and care for bringing forth the mysteries of God to those who need to understand. Who needs to understand the hidden things of God? Everyone.
2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Each of us have been given gifts of God and responsibilities to use our gifts to the ability God has given us. We are to be faithful to his calling.
Jesus tells a parable of a just steward who is rewarded with more authority, (in his Kingdom), I also am reminded of the many promotions of Joseph in the Old Testament because of his excellent Spirit and service.
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luke 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
1 Cor 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
Our Pastor spoke of dying to self will each day, mentioning the agony of Jesus in the garden as he was concerned for what was coming. Nonetheless he said thy will be done. (Mat 26:41) He obeyed his fathers will. When on the cross men said many wicked words to Jesus. Yet he did not defend himself. (Mat 27:40-42)
1 Cor 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
Paul knows nothing by himself, all is revealed by God through his Spirit and the scriptures. He does not defend himself, Christ will be the judge of his works, not man.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
We are not to condemn another, but to pray for them. We are to judge behavior by the standard of Gods word. The final judge is Jesus who will bring all things to light the good works and thoughts and the bad. Believers in Jesus will be rewarded for good done. Unbelievers will be judged according to their deeds. The judgment will be fair and just. This is important, there are varying degrees of judgment for nonbelievers . Yet all will receive eternal separation in hell. Some say we only perish... If all only perish why judge them according to the degree of sins? Hell is the future for those who do not receive Jesus. I do not know the levels of torment. I do not want to know. But Jesus talked more of the danger of hell then he did of heaven. Those in Christ receive everlasting life and peace with God. Choose Jesus and you will receive all the riches of Jesus Christ forever. We must be faithful to deliver the life giving message of salvation in Christ Jesus.
The Strong and the Weak
1 Cor 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1 Cor 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Paul uses common sense. Why compare people with others? Why be puffed up because one is favored above another. This is carnal. Who makes you different? It is God. What you receive of God , do you say you have done this?
1 Cor 4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
You are full of life's good things and you are rich in the worlds goods. You are as reigning Kings.
This sounds like prosperity, abundance, praise God for it, but never look down on another who is poor or struggling as if God's favor were not on them because of their faults or lack of faith. Nor look at yourself as though by your own doing you are deserving of so much.
Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
1 Cor 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Did God show less favor to the apostles because they suffered much and were martyrs? No they will receive a greater reward.
1 Cor 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
I think Paul is contrasting lives and attitudes here, he has a bit of irony.
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ. Here is the difference in being wise in the head instead of a heart like Paul, passionately given to the work of Christ being called a fool by those who oppose him.
WE are weak, (Christ is our strength), but you are strong (in outward things and pride)
1 Cor 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1 Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1 Cor 4:13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Cor 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
They were living completely for Jesus and suffering many things. Paul warns them of there Sunday morning Christianity. Paul ministered all his life where it was difficult. Those who he spoke with were proud and wealthy and naked and blind.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
We can learn from this contrast in ministers of the Gospel, Paul was totally committed to Christ caring not for his own life to preach the gospel. The others were puffed up rich and wealthy as TV evangelists without truly dying to self and following the Lord. They liked the good life here on earth.
As a Father
1 Cor 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Paul had led these people to Christ and had taught them the basics of the faith. He was looking out for them as a good shepherd and a father.
1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Some of you reading this know the relationship between Pastor or teacher and yourself as a disciple of Christ. Some of you have been begotten through the gospel by online witnessing and are following through the Daily Bible. Some of you have as Paul and the Corinthians been begotten through the gospel from my personal witnessing online. This was God's doing. To some of you I have been honoured to be as your dad, I too as Paul have dear children that I want to grow in the truth of God's word. Not to be their master but to be their friend; Jesus is Lord and God is our Father.
1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
You can't grow without the word. So we need learn God's word.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
A teacher must walk the talk. How many can truthfully say like Paul,"be followers of me". Though before salvation he was the cheif of sinners, all things become new in Christ Jesus.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1 Cor 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
How proud Paul was of Timothy, a son who has grown up in the faith and was filling in for him. The elders are replaced by new and faithful teachers to keep the faith. Is this not why we learn? We learn so we can teach others and bring more out of satans trap and keep ourselves from evil. Lord I pray for my dear children in the the faith , and your disciples, that they trust in you. That they follow the truth and serve you and grow into mature teachers and doers of the word. Amen.
Puffed Up
1 Cor 4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
Puffed up, proud, defiant this reminds me of Satan walking about as a roaring lion. (1Pet4:8) When Jesus comes he is through, his time is over. In the same way are the disobedient and arrogant.
Psa 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Psa 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Ezek 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Ezek 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
1 Cor 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
Time for a showdown, truth opposes error and deception. If Jesus were to come to our churches, would he approve of the double hearts of many of the people? God's spirit is mighty and it dwells in truth, the world's spirit cannot stand in the light of God's truth.
1 Cor 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Mat 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
Mat 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
The power of God brings healing and life and it dwells in purity of hearts.
1 Cor 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Sometimes bold words of corrections are enough, still if no repentence further steps of correction are required. A humble heart responds to love and a spirit of meekness. A proud and defiant heart requires the rod of correction.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
If you are in the faith, then you must live a righteous life.
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Yes it does matter how we live our lives. Our Pastor tells us that we are all leaders, someone is watching us. For sure our Lord is watching us. He knows when we are weary and lifts us up. He also knows when we are puffed up and disobedient, and he may send a Paul to correct us.
1 Cor 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Lord help us to lead lives that bring honor to your name. Amen
Gary
1 Corinthians Chapters
1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 3
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 1 Index