I Corinthians 4:1-5: "Only the Lord Knows"
Continuing his thought from the previous section that no one should boast in men, and all faith, honor and glory should go to God, Paul puts human leaders in proper perspective in this section. Paul begins, "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God". The "us" Paul speaks of here is referring back to the Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and in general all shepherds in ministry. He is speaking to most specifically Christians and more specifically the Corinthian believers. In this section, the word "servants" is huperetes. MacArthur writes, "Servants means literally, 'under rowers', originally indicating the lowest galley slaves, the ones rowing on the bottom tier of a ship. They were the most menial, unenvied, and despised of slaves. From that meaning the term came to refer to subordinates of any sort, to those under the authority of another". Paul obviously meant that he and the other leaders of the Corinthian church were under the authority of God and acting under his lordship. Being subject to Christ, Paul is saying that godly leaders were to be submitted to the will of God and to lead in such a way as to bring his followers under the subjection of Christ as well. We can look at what Paul is saying two ways. First, the main reason Paul was bringing this up, as he had done earlier in his letter, is to help the Corinthians gain the right perspective of the men who had lead them to Christ and baptized them. There had been division in the church over these men as to who had lead them to Christ, and the congregation was saying, "I am of Apollos, or I am of Paul, or I am of Cephas". Desiring to redirect their focus in the proper place, Paul has set out to show them that these men are merely "servants" of the one who deserves the praise. By reiterating their mere humanness and putting their position in the proper perspective Paul was hoping to show all where the real glory and honor was to be placed, in Christ Jesus. A second thing we can take from this are for those who are in positions of spiritual leadership. Our attitude is to be one of humility, subjection to Christ's authority. Our focus should never be gaining in popularity or gaining social status, as has been the habit of some, but rather, to bring all of those you have been placed in charge of into the subjection of Christ.
Another duty of a minister is as a steward "of the mysteries of God". MacArthur writes, "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 the vineyards, the finances, the food, and the other servants on behalf of his master". Paul had previously spoken of the "mysteries of God", and we had learned that it was referring to that which was previously hidden and can only be known through divine revelation. MacArthur explains, "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". Again, we can take two perspectives on this. First, and Paul's main point, is that as a minister, you are called to proclaim the gospel in a trustworthy manner. It is your call and duty to be faithful to explaining to the flock that which God has revealed in His divine Word. Second, it is important that as one who is being lead by a shepherd we understand that the ministers role is to proclaim the Word of God. They are not to share their beliefs, or give human wisdom to their people, but rather, boldly proclaim all that is given to them. We are not to lift them up on a pedestal as if what they are giving us is their wisdom, and their knowledge, and their grace. Rather, we are to honor them as they faithfully give us God's Word, and respond accordingly by giving praise to God.
Paul continues to explain the roles and duties of the minister of God. He writes, "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy". Because it is such an important role in the work of salvation, the steward must be held to a high standard, and is essential for them to be trustworthy. God does not desire to entrust the leading of his people into the hands of one who is not trustworthy. As Paul had said previously, it is not cleverness of speech or high social standing that are important, it is that the man be a faithful steward, trustworthy with the Word of God. MacArthur writes, "God supplies His Word, His Spirit, His gifts, and His power. All that the minister can supply is his faithfulness in using those resources. The work is demanding but is basically simple: taking God's Word and feeding it faithfully to His people".
One of the big issues of the Corinthian church, as previously said, was the problem of division and siding with leaders. People in the congregation were obviously evaluating the different leaders with various criteria. In verses 3 and 4, Paul moves to show both the ministers and the congregation as to the proper perspective of evaluating the ministry. Paul starts, "But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court". Do not misconstrue what Paul is doing here. He is not bragging, he is not boasting or thinking of himself as above all others that he would not have to take anything they say into consideration. In this context, what Paul is saying is that as a minister he must not be worried about how he is spoken of or thought of by humans. The main point of this is for ministers not to change their message or conform to the opinion of the congregation or any other human court for that matter. Paul knows he will be judged by God in his faithfulness to being a steward of the Word of God. MacArthur points out, "we can benefit greatly form 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".
Paul takes his evaluation one step further and says, "in fact, I do not even examine myself". We are never objective in our evaluations of ourselves. We are often able to justify our actions, and have a plethora of predispositions that bias our opinion of ourselves. Often our inward motives do not even match our outward behavior, and again, this just shows that neither others, nor ourselves are good judges as to motive and genuineness in ministry. Paul furthers his evaluation of himself by saying, "I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted". Paul's point here is that in his heart who knew of no unconfessed sin or serious deficiency in his ministry at the time, however, he recognized that only God truly knew all his motives. In Jeremiah 17:9-10 we read, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds". We can see that we cannot be a fair judge of ourselves. Even our own heart lies and deceives us. Although Paul may be "conscious of nothing against [himself]", he understands that this does not acquit him, he is not the final judge on this. However, "the one who examines me is the Lord". Here, Paul voices what we read in v. 10 of Jeremiah 17, and we see that it is only the Lord who can properly judge the heart, the mind, the deeds, and ultimately the ministry of each pastor. MacArthur writes, "A minister serves his people spiritually only when he is a faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. And God alone is the judge of the true spiritual value of that service".
Saying all that he has just said, Paul sums up his point, "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts, and then each man's praise will come to him from God". Paul is in a sense saying to his readers, "OK - listen up, get closer so you can grasp what I have been trying to tell you". He tells them they must quit what they have been doing. They have been passing judgment and evaluating ministers and taking sides. They are so focused on their own wisdom and on their own opinions that they are forgetting what really matters. Paul is in essence saying, " stop wasting your time trying to figure out who is right or who is wrong in this matter. You know what your calling is and you have not been exhibiting this in your behavior as you have been dividing over your opinion of a human leader". They must not get themselves involved in things that the Lord will take care of. MacArthur explains, "God has a day planned when He will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts. Those two phrases refer to the attitudes of the inner man, which only God can see. 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 passing judgment before [that] time. We see only the outside, visible, and cannot know what is hidden in the recesses of the soul". There will be a day when God reveals to us all the motives of our hearts and then we will receive the proper praise that is due. For some it will be revealed that their whole lives were given up in faithful service, but no one really ever noticed it. On this day, those will be revealed and we will all rejoice. This must be a reminder to us that when we do anything in this life that we do it for the glory of God. "Whether, then [we] eat or drink or whatever [we] do, [we] do all to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:31). MacArthur leaves us with this point to sum up, "It is good when fellow Christians can speak well of us sincerely. It is good when our own conscience does not accuse us. But it will be wonderful beyond description if, on that day, our Lord can say of us, 'Well done, good and faithful servant'".
Another duty of a minister is as a steward "of the mysteries of God". MacArthur writes, "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 the vineyards, the finances, the food, and the other servants on behalf of his master". Paul had previously spoken of the "mysteries of God", and we had learned that it was referring to that which was previously hidden and can only be known through divine revelation. MacArthur explains, "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". Again, we can take two perspectives on this. First, and Paul's main point, is that as a minister, you are called to proclaim the gospel in a trustworthy manner. It is your call and duty to be faithful to explaining to the flock that which God has revealed in His divine Word. Second, it is important that as one who is being lead by a shepherd we understand that the ministers role is to proclaim the Word of God. They are not to share their beliefs, or give human wisdom to their people, but rather, boldly proclaim all that is given to them. We are not to lift them up on a pedestal as if what they are giving us is their wisdom, and their knowledge, and their grace. Rather, we are to honor them as they faithfully give us God's Word, and respond accordingly by giving praise to God.
Paul continues to explain the roles and duties of the minister of God. He writes, "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy". Because it is such an important role in the work of salvation, the steward must be held to a high standard, and is essential for them to be trustworthy. God does not desire to entrust the leading of his people into the hands of one who is not trustworthy. As Paul had said previously, it is not cleverness of speech or high social standing that are important, it is that the man be a faithful steward, trustworthy with the Word of God. MacArthur writes, "God supplies His Word, His Spirit, His gifts, and His power. All that the minister can supply is his faithfulness in using those resources. The work is demanding but is basically simple: taking God's Word and feeding it faithfully to His people".
One of the big issues of the Corinthian church, as previously said, was the problem of division and siding with leaders. People in the congregation were obviously evaluating the different leaders with various criteria. In verses 3 and 4, Paul moves to show both the ministers and the congregation as to the proper perspective of evaluating the ministry. Paul starts, "But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court". Do not misconstrue what Paul is doing here. He is not bragging, he is not boasting or thinking of himself as above all others that he would not have to take anything they say into consideration. In this context, what Paul is saying is that as a minister he must not be worried about how he is spoken of or thought of by humans. The main point of this is for ministers not to change their message or conform to the opinion of the congregation or any other human court for that matter. Paul knows he will be judged by God in his faithfulness to being a steward of the Word of God. MacArthur points out, "we can benefit greatly form 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".
Paul takes his evaluation one step further and says, "in fact, I do not even examine myself". We are never objective in our evaluations of ourselves. We are often able to justify our actions, and have a plethora of predispositions that bias our opinion of ourselves. Often our inward motives do not even match our outward behavior, and again, this just shows that neither others, nor ourselves are good judges as to motive and genuineness in ministry. Paul furthers his evaluation of himself by saying, "I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted". Paul's point here is that in his heart who knew of no unconfessed sin or serious deficiency in his ministry at the time, however, he recognized that only God truly knew all his motives. In Jeremiah 17:9-10 we read, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds". We can see that we cannot be a fair judge of ourselves. Even our own heart lies and deceives us. Although Paul may be "conscious of nothing against [himself]", he understands that this does not acquit him, he is not the final judge on this. However, "the one who examines me is the Lord". Here, Paul voices what we read in v. 10 of Jeremiah 17, and we see that it is only the Lord who can properly judge the heart, the mind, the deeds, and ultimately the ministry of each pastor. MacArthur writes, "A minister serves his people spiritually only when he is a faithful servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. And God alone is the judge of the true spiritual value of that service".
Saying all that he has just said, Paul sums up his point, "Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts, and then each man's praise will come to him from God". Paul is in a sense saying to his readers, "OK - listen up, get closer so you can grasp what I have been trying to tell you". He tells them they must quit what they have been doing. They have been passing judgment and evaluating ministers and taking sides. They are so focused on their own wisdom and on their own opinions that they are forgetting what really matters. Paul is in essence saying, " stop wasting your time trying to figure out who is right or who is wrong in this matter. You know what your calling is and you have not been exhibiting this in your behavior as you have been dividing over your opinion of a human leader". They must not get themselves involved in things that the Lord will take care of. MacArthur explains, "God has a day planned when He will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts. Those two phrases refer to the attitudes of the inner man, which only God can see. 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 passing judgment before [that] time. We see only the outside, visible, and cannot know what is hidden in the recesses of the soul". There will be a day when God reveals to us all the motives of our hearts and then we will receive the proper praise that is due. For some it will be revealed that their whole lives were given up in faithful service, but no one really ever noticed it. On this day, those will be revealed and we will all rejoice. This must be a reminder to us that when we do anything in this life that we do it for the glory of God. "Whether, then [we] eat or drink or whatever [we] do, [we] do all to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:31). MacArthur leaves us with this point to sum up, "It is good when fellow Christians can speak well of us sincerely. It is good when our own conscience does not accuse us. But it will be wonderful beyond description if, on that day, our Lord can say of us, 'Well done, good and faithful servant'".
posted by amesfam | 7:56 AM
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