“Stewardship: Recognition, Requirement, Result”
(I Corinthians 4: 1-5)
I. Introduction.
A. To get the full impact of what Paul says to the church at
Corinth, in these first verses of chapter 4 of the First
Corinthian letter, and to put these words of inspiration in
their proper context, we need to go back briefly, to what
precedes them, in chapter 3.
1. Paul, writing from Ephesus, addresses a church
planted in the midst of a most-pagan, godless
environment.
a. Corinth was, by far, the first city of Greece
in the first century. It had eclipsed Athens
(although the Athenians would not have
admitted that) because it was the center of
commerce in that part of the world.
b. It was also a city of degraded culture and
idolatrous religion.
2. Paul himself had helped establish the church there,
and had a great personal concern for the Corinthians
who “. . . are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be
saints. . .” (I Corinthians 1:2).
B. The problems at Corinth had to do with spiritual maturity,
and how to be truly “set apart” (sanctified) in such a secular
environment.
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1. Looking back to what comes before chapter 4, you
hear Paul’s words to Christians who thought
themselves spiritually mature, but who didn’t even
recognize, and understand, that the men they were
identifying as their leaders – leaders of factions in
the church – were only mere servants themselves
(I Corinthians 3:5: “Who then is Paul, and who is
Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed,
as the Lord gave to each one?”).
2. Real spiritually maturity means to recognize one’s
individual responsibility, and accountability, before
God. And, this is the essence of stewardship, as
well. (READ I Corinthians 3: 7-9).
C. In I Corinthians 4, the Apostle calls believers to
recognition, requirement, and result: recognition of certain
facts, a requirement for certain qualities, and a result with
a certain impact. Paul also emphasizes that the “lower
courts” of peoples’ opinions, and even of one’s own
conscience, are inferior to the judgments of God. As
stewards, we are accountable not to one another, and not
just to ourselves, but to God. Because of this, as it states in
verse 2: “. . . it is required in stewards that one be found
faithful.”
II. Recognition.
A. In I Corinthians 4:1, Paul tells his hearers to recognize two
facts:
1. First, that we are all servants (“Let a man so
consider us, as a servant of Christ. . .”).
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a. The Master is the Lord, Jesus Christ. Our
responsibility is to carry out His Will, no
matter what our own personal desires are,
no matter what decisions we feel it our
right to make. (Jesus, in Gethsemane:
“. . . not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:39).
b. As servants we are to minister to one
another for the glory of the Master.
2. Then, fact two: that we are all stewards
(“. . .stewards of the mysteries of God.”).
a. We manage what the Master has given us to
control. We manage that which is not ours,
but His.
b. Our management is of physical resources,
and spiritual resources. (i.e. the Gospel).
B. The Greek word Paul uses here for “servant” is interesting
itself. It originally meant a rower on the lowest level of a
trireme – a slave (condemned criminal) who pulled on the
large oars that moved the ship through the water. It
represented the most-menial of tasks. Christ captains the
ship, determines its course – we only serve at His direction
and are to obey His orders.
C. The steward holds the message the Master wants revealed.
But, however much responsibility a steward was given;
however much he knew about the Master’s affairs, he was
still but a servant, beholden to the Master for all he had.
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III. Requirement.
A. After recognizing our rightful place as a servant-steward,
we must possess certain qualities, if we’re to be
considered good stewards.
1. These qualities are not eloquence, not brilliance,
nor charisma (personal attractiveness), nor even
human abilities of various kinds. What we must
possess can be summarized in one word. There
is only one quality listed in I Corinthians 4:2 that
is absolutely required in stewards: faithfulness.
2. God seeks, rewards faithfulness above all else.
Faithfulness is valued above greatness.
B. Faithfulness is listed as one of the “fruit of the Spirit” in
Galatians 5 (verse 22). Faithfulness especially refers to
being stewards of God’s Word (II Timothy 2:2: “And the
things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach
others also.”).
C. It is a privilege to receive salvation by the grace of God. It
is a privilege and a responsibility to transmit that message
of salvation to other people.
D. The quality of faithfulness does go beyond the carrying of
God’s message of hope to people lost in sin. We, as
“faithful” stewards bear a responsibility for our time, our
influence, our resources, our possessions. Paul wanted the
Corinthians to not only recognize the fact of stewardship,
but to possess the quality of faithfulness.
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IV. Result.
A. The result is to submit to God and His righteous judgment
(I Corinthians 4:5). We cannot usurp God’s position as
Master, and we cannot usurp God’s role as the holy and
righteous judge of all.
B. He is the Only One fit to judge us – or anyone – because:
He “. . . will both bring to light the hidden things of
darkness and reveal the counsels [motives] of the
hearts . . .”
C. God’s judgment reveals what is really true.
V. Conclusion.
A. The Corinthians, with their sects and divisions, had
exercised improper judgments. These were
accompanied by improper conduct.
B. Paul speaks of judgments every person must face:
1. That of other people. Don’t let such
judgments deflect us from what is truly right.
2. That of ourselves. Don’t let such judgments be
clouded by self-satisfaction, self-righteousness,
pride, or conceit.
3. That of God. The only real judgment. Only God
knows the circumstances, and the motives, of our
lives and of ourselves. The One who created the
human heart, knows that heart and can judge it.
PRAYER.
C. Our place is as a servant and a steward. Our call is to obey
the Master.