MY STANDING AND MY LIVING

God’s Servant And Steward

I Corinthians 4:1-5

10 October 2010

Introduction:

John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the

devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper: It had been a wearying day,

and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the

phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken

Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to

disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for

him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure.

"Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."

I. The Minister’s Role

1. A Servant- Greek huperetes is literally "the slave who rows on the lowest level of a boat.

Trireme

Paul urges the Corinthians not to think of Apollos and Cephas and himself

as leaders of parties; but to think of them all as servants of Christ.

"We are not the captains of the ship," said Paul, "but only the galley

slaves who are under orders. Now, is one slave greater than another?"

2. A Steward- Greek oikonomos in charge of the whole administration of the

house or the estate. He controlled the staff; he issued the supplies; but, however

much he controlled the household staff, he himself was still a slave where the

master was concerned.

A steward is a servant who manages everything for his master, but who himself owns nothing. Joseph was a chief steward in Potiphar's household (Gen 39). Whatever be a man's position in the Church, and whatever power he may yield

there or whatever prestige he may enjoy, be still remains the servant of Christ.

II. The Minister’s Requirement v.2

• Trustworthiness

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. The responsibility of the steward is to be faithful to his master. A steward may

not please the members of the household; he may not even please some of the other servants; but if he pleases his own master, he is a good steward. This same

idea is expressed in Rom 14:4.

So, the main issue is not "Is Paul popular?" or, ."Is Apollos a better preacher than Paul?" The main issue is, "Have Paul, Apollos, and Peter been faithful to do the

work God assigned to them?" Jesus had this same test in mind when He told the parable recorded in Luke 12:41-48. If a servant of God is faithful in his personal

life, in his home, and in his ministry of the Word, then he is a good steward and will be adequately rewarded.

III. The Multiplicity Ruling In Life v.3-4

But a servant is constantly being judged. There is always somebody criticizing something he does. Paul pointed out that there are three judgments in the life of

the steward. 1. Man’s judgment

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority.

Paul did not get upset when people criticized him, for he knew that his

Master's judgment was far more important. The phrase man's judgment is literally "man's day." This is in contrast to God’s the day of judgment yet to

come

2. Self judgment

I don't even trust my own judgment on this point. My

conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right.

Paul knew nothing that was amiss in his life and ministry, but even that did not excuse him sometimes we do not really know ourselves. There can be a

fine be between a clear conscience and a self-righteous attitude, so we must beware.

3. God’s judgment

It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

But the main reference here is to the final evaluation when each Christian stands at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10). Then the true

facts will be revealed and the faithful servants rewarded.

Two things to consider:

1. If you are a servant, you are most likely to experience judgment

2. If you do not experience judgment, most likely you are the one who

pronounces judgment to other people

IV. The Minister’s Rebuke v.5

So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns.

V. The Master’s Return v.5

1. Will bring our darkest secrets to light.

The secret things of the heart which have been hidden as it were in

darkness. The subsequent clause shows that this is the sense. He does not refer to the deeds of night, or those things which were performed in the secret places of idolatry, but to the secret designs of the heart; and perhaps means gently to

insinuate that there were many things about the character and feelings of his enemies which would not well bear the revelations of that Day.

2. Will reveal our private motives.

The purposes, designs, and intentions of men. All their plans shall be

made known on that Day. And it is a most fearful and alarming truth, that no man can conceal his purposes BEYOND the Day of Judgment.

3. Will give to each one whatever praise is due.

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Jer 17:10

“The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.”

I Corinthians 3:8

• The Job Description

SERVE FAITHFULLY

TAKE CHARGE OF EVERYTHING FOR GOD NOT FOR SELF

EXERCISE STEWARDSHIP NOT OWNERSHIP

WAIT AND ALLOW GOD TO PASS JUDGMENT

AVOID PASSING JUDGMENT TO ANYBODY

REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE A SERVANT OF CHRIST

DISTURB NOT WHEN RECEIVING JUDGMENT

Conclusion:

At a pastor's conference in Spokane, Chuck Swindoll told of being at a California

Christian camp. The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to hearing Dr. Swindoll speak and his delight at now finally being able to realize that desire. That evening Swindoll noticed the man sitting near the

front. But only a few minutes into the message the man was sound asleep. Swindoll thought to himself that perhaps he was tired after a long day's drive and couldn't help

himself. But the same thing happened the next few nights, and Dr. Swindoll found his exasperation with the man growing. On the last night the man's wife came up and apologized for her husband's inattention to the messages. She then explained that he

had recently been diagnosed as having terminal cancer and the medication he was taking to ease the pain made him extremely sleepy. But it had been one of his life-long

ambitions to hear Dr. Swindoll speak before he died, and now he had fulfilled that goal.