Amen. If you would turn in your Bibles once again to 1 Corinthians chapter 4, we are going to be looking at two or three different texts, but all of them will be in 1 Corinthians chapters 1 through 4. The title of my message is Every Believer is a Steward. And I'm sure that our text on that makes some of you wonder what caused me to choose this portion of scripture.
And by way of introduction, I need to make you aware of why I'm exposing this particular text. When Pastor Barkman gave out the preaching schedule, I prayerfully considered with the Lord to have me share. I kept drawing a blank. As time went on, my concerns drew and I even looked at sermons I'd preached years earlier thinking I could spruce them up or whatnot and use one of those.
God gave me no peace in doing that. As I visited our sick and shut-ins last week, I continued to prayerfully seek the Lord's leading. The third visit on Thursday was to Vicki, a dear loving Beacon member with dementia. As is often the case, when I went to see her, she was sleepy and a bit disoriented. Our conversation was rather one-sided and relatively short. I prayed for her and departed. As I walked out of the facility that she lives in, I wondered, what have I really accomplished?
My time with her was probably five minutes. And then a verse flooded my mind. Moreover, it's required in the stewards that one be found faithful. And the thought went through my mind, just be faithful, show concern, share the Word, pray with her, leave what's accomplished in me, meaning the Lord. And that's what led me to this text tonight. The context of my text is factions within the church based upon favoritism and comparisons. Now many of you, your mind is racing, do we have factions at Beacon now that I know of?
That's not the focus tonight. I want to praise God for the pastoral staff with whom I'm privileged to serve. We enjoy the unity that comes with a common goal. And beloved, that common goal is the accurate, humble sharing of the Word of God for which each of us will be judged. In preparing this message for tonight, one overwhelming thought kept crossing my mind, no matter what ministry God places under your stewardship, be faithful.
Beloved, that applies to all believers. The problem with the Corinthians in our text was wrong priorities and a wrong perspective on stewardship. Paul shared four principles on faithful stewardship that can be beneficially broadened beyond the role of pastor, and I think you'll see that.
It can be broadened to other ministries as well. Although our text is 1 Corinthians 4, we've got to look briefly at some earlier texts to introduce the problem Paul is addressing. Turn back to chapter 1, if you would, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, and I want to read verses 11 through 14. 1 Corinthians 1, 11 through 14, Paul writes, For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, and that is another name for Peter, or I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
The implied answer is an emphatic no. No human leader should be given the loyalty that belongs only to the Lord. Christ is not divided, and neither is his body the church. Paul depreciates, he depreciates himself and his position. We need to keep in mind that Paul and Apollos do not fill the position of pastor of a local church. This man-centeredness in ministry involves much more than pastors. It can be in a variety of different ministries. Now turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians 3, 1 through 5, where Paul openly rebukes the spiritual immaturity and carnality of favoritism that focuses on the messenger. You say, well, by the way, it sort of sounds like you're dealing with the conflict itself.
Well, you'll see as we progress and get into the text, it'll be much broader than that. 1 Corinthians 3, 1 through 5, Paul is openly rebuking their immaturity and carnality. And he says, and I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it. And even now you are still not able, for you're still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For one says, I am of Paul. Another, I am of Apollos. Are you not carnal? Who then is Paul and who is Apollos? But ministers through whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one. Beloved, four times in these five verses, Paul describes them as carnal. The English Standard Version and the New American Standard calls them people of the flesh.
Not very flattering. What a rebuke. Paul is stating, and this is critical, Paul is stating that the message and not the messenger is all important. That salvation and sanctification are of the Lord.
That's important for us to go over again. And it's not just the office of pastor, anyone over any ministry. Paul is stating that the message and not the messenger is all important. That salvation and sanctification are of the Lord. He refers to himself and Apollos as ministers.
And we're going to return to that word minister in a moment. Now turn to our text in 1 Corinthians 4. 1 Corinthians 4. We're going to look at verses 1 through 7 and we'll pick them up as we go through the message tonight.
I want us first of all to consider the attitude of the steward. 1 Corinthians 4.1. Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Paul rebuked the various factions in the church when he called himself and Apollos servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. How did he rebuke them?
He wasn't putting them on a pedestal. He was saying we are merely servants of Christ and stewards of the mystery of God. The word translated ministers in 1 Corinthians 3.5 that we looked at earlier and servants of Christ here is literally under rowers.
Under rowers. It described the slaves who rode the huge Roman galleys. So Paul was saying we're not the captains of the ship but merely galley slaves who are under orders and it's as if he says now is one slave greater than another and the answer is no. If you ever watched the movie Ben Hur you saw galley slaves rowing the ship and what did you notice about them? They were chained to the oars. So if the ship went down they did too.
They were motivated, motivated to make certain that the ship was superior to the opponent. After likening himself and Apollos to galley slaves Paul likened them to a steward. The steward was the preeminent servant in a Greco-Roman household. Owning virtually nothing but controlling virtually everything the steward wielded delegated authority but here's the key. That authority was always accountable to the master. Any authority that he had to be over the master's house was under the accountability to the master. Elsewhere in the scriptures Paul also called himself a bondservant of Christ and a prisoner of the Lord when he challenged the Ephesian believers to walk worthy of their calling and in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 Paul wrote to me who am less than the least of all the saints this grace was given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
If you can't see the threat of humility through these first considerations it's there loud and clear. The word mystery in verse 1 is used in the New Testament to refer to divine revelation previously hidden. In a mystery I should say in Paul's letters is something that people in their human weakness could not understand unless God graciously revealed it to them and since Paul uses the plural mysteries this is dealing with a larger scope of the scriptures than just the gospel. Every believer is dependent upon God's grace to even begin to understand the mysteries of God. At our church we believe unless the Holy Spirit does a work in our lives we will not ever have saving faith and I think that you will see that loud and clear. There's only one way that you can interpret what I'm about to read and it's in 1 Corinthians 2 11 through 13.
Don't turn there but listen. Paul writes for what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him. Even so no one knows the things of God except the spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God.
Why? That we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Unless the Holy Spirit quickens a spiritually dead person to life he will have no interest in and no ability to understand the word of God. Principle number one that we've just looked at the attitude of the steward he needs to be humble like a galley slave or a servant accountable to his master. Humility. Principle number two the actions of the steward. Notice verse two. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. A servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God must be faithful in handling the word through the enabling of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Greek word for faithful is translated trustworthy in the New American Standard Bible. The most essential quality of a servant or steward is obedient loyalty to the will of his master. In chapter seven which we'll not look at but in verse 25 Paul refers to himself as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. That struck me. He refers to himself as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.
Need to think that over. You know it's God the Holy Spirit that makes us have character to be trustworthy and in and of ourselves we wouldn't be I don't believe. Two events in the life of Christ act as bookends to his perfect example of faithful stewardship.
He is the premium example premier example of this. Listen to these two verses if you would. This first one is when Joseph and Mary found him in the temple at age 12. Age 12 talking with the Jewish leaders he asked why did you seek me?
Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? The other bookend as his crucifixion drew near he prayed to the father. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you've given me to do.
Jesus indeed was the ultimate example of faithfulness and you know I've often thought when I've read that verse I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work. That's in the past tense because in his mind it was a done deal and beloved you need to think through the fact that Gethsemane lay ahead. Gabbatha lay ahead. Golgotha lay ahead and that he said I have finished the work that you gave me to do.
How could he say that? Because he was trustworthy. He was faithful.
In Gethsemane as was mentioned this morning when he prayed to the father if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will but as you will. Principle number one the attitude of the servant. He is to be humble like a galley slave or a servant accountable to his master and then this principle to the actions of a servant he must be faithful.
Turn back if you would briefly to chapter two. First Corinthians 2 and again this just gives us an overview or a bigger picture and as we look at first Corinthians 2 one through five we'll see a glimpse of Paul's faithfulness. He said and I brethren when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God for I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness in fear and in much trembling and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power.
Why? That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Beloved Paul was a ministry minded faithful servant of Christ.
He made it very clear that it's not the messenger that's important it's the message it's always the message. In Galatians 6 14 he wrote but God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. We've looked at the attitude of the steward he's to be humble like a galley slave or servant accountable to his master the actions of the steward he's to be faithful to manage everything placed in his care by his master and now turn back to our text in chapter 4 while we will consider principle 3 and that is this the assessment of the steward he must stay focused upon God's judgment and not mankind's he must stay focused upon God's judgment and not mankind's verses 3 through 5. Paul writes but with me it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court in fact I did not even judge myself for I know of nothing against myself and I'm not justified by this but he who judges me is the Lord therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will bring both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts then each one's praise will come from God.
I want to consider four things under this first assessment by believers. Notice verse 3 the first part he said but with me it's a very small thing that I should be judged by you and he's referring to the believers in Corinth some of whom touted Apollos or Peter above Paul so he's saying it's a small thing for me to be judged by you people in the Corinthian church. The second group assessment by others verse 3 again or by a human court literally the idea is human day or as we would say it Paul's day in court. Judgment by those outside the church was of no concern to him. Then the third consideration is assessment by himself the last part of verse 3 and the first part of verse 4 he says in fact I do not even judge myself for I know of nothing against myself yet I'm not justified by this. The King James Version uses the word justified and that can be confusing because we're not referring to the doctrine of justification by faith. The English Standard Version and the New American Standard Version use the word acquitted even though he knows he's nothing that he's done wrong that does not acquit him what does that mean? Acquitted in this context means discharged completely or declared innocent from an accusation like a person in court. Paul was not aware of any unconfessed or habitual sin in his own life but he knew that this did not acquit him of any failures to be faithful.
Why is that? Even the sincerest Christians come up short or we can have blind spots that can contribute to a self-righteous attitude. Paul likened himself to a wretched man and the chief of sinners. And then the fourth category he looked at assessment by believers in the church by others by himself now by the Lord. The second part of verse 4 and all of verse 5 Paul says but he who judges me is the Lord therefore in other words in light of that fact therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord comes who will bring both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart then each one's praise will come from God. Verse 4b the Lord is the ultimate and only qualified judge of any man's obedience and faithfulness. With that in mind 2 Timothy 2 15 should be the standard about which we are stewards of the ministries that God puts under us whatever they may be. Let me read it to you the ESV puts it very plainly do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. And then verse 5 states the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart. John MacArthur states that these refer to inner motives thoughts and attitudes which only God can know. Since final rewards will be based not on just outward service but on inward devotion only God can give the praise each deserves.
Once the wood and the hay and the stubble have been burned up what will be left beloved is gold silver and precious stones and they will be determined by our attitude and our actions. Was the message most important or was the messenger and that's the bottom line consideration that we have to look at. The attitude of the steward is to be humble like a galley slave or a servant accountable to his master. The actions of the steward he's to be faithful to manage everything placed in his care by the master. The assessment of the steward he must stay focused upon God's judgment and not mankind. The last principle that I want to consider tonight principle number four the abilities of the steward. The abilities of the steward he understands that God equips him for his purpose and for his glory. God has given us each of us the gifts and talents the natural abilities that he knows that we will need to do as well and I want to insert something here that is not in my notes but it's a parenthetical meaning when I'm done with it we're just going to go on.
I'm not going to try to get my way back okay but I really feel led to share this. The abilities of the steward he understands that God equips him for his purpose and for his glory. I wish every person who works with children in this church was here tonight. I have been an educator for a long time and there is a real sense in which it's much harder to teach little children than it is adults. There's a very real sense. I had an art teacher that said simplicity is truth's most becoming garb. Simplicity is truth's most becoming garb.
Make it simple and that's easier said than done. I want to share something that happened recently and this is what prompted me to say what I've done. Jane and I were in Greensboro two weeks ago watching some of our son Jonathan's kids play ball. Two of the girls or one of the girls had volleyball games so Jane went that direction and the others had soccer so I went that direction.
I don't know why that would be but anyway I went to watch the soccer and it was hot. It was hot. So I decided to get up and move my chair up under these trees on this little hill and I didn't notice until I sat down that to the left of me was this little chair, little folding chair.
I just sat there, the chair's there. All of a sudden this little, little dude, I'll bet he wasn't any more than three years old, came up and he started picking dandelions and I said something, hey bud, how you doing? And he kept right on picking and then he brought them over and gave them to me and I said well that was kind of you. Jesus wants us to be kind and that kind of set me back but what it told me loud and clear is somebody has taught that child a truth and he is practicing it.
As simple as that is, he is practicing it. Now I'll tell you one thing, if you work with children, those of us in here who have younger children or grandchildren, we count on you and I don't mean to be insulting when I say this, we count on you not to babysit but to give them the truth and here's another angle that I want us to think about tonight in working with children and even our teens and I know Brother Hunter would agree with this. We've got to be very careful that we don't frame what we're teaching under the heading of story. I want to tell you the story about David and Goliath.
Now you wouldn't use the term event with first or second graders but I'm awfully afraid sometimes they get stuck on oh this is another story just like Kenson and Gretel. If we're not careful and I've been at it long enough to know that that can be true but I believe that God gifts people to be able to work with little kids. I believe God gifts people to any ministry that he's called them to but that illustration just hit me personally. Paul uses, look at verse six, Paul uses himself and Apollos as examples. Now these things brethren I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos.
Why? For your sakes that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. Well what are these things? One commentator put it this way, if one looks, if a person looks at each figure of speech that Paul used it is clear that he's combating the tendency of the Corinthians to be man-centered and not word-centered in their evaluations. If they saw themselves as God sees them, as servants, under rowers, stewards, this would serve to deflate their own puffed up egos and let me say now I may read verses eight through 13 that I read earlier we won't have time for me to exposit them but this illustrates it. They were puffed up thinking they were something. Oh I'm of Apollos, oh I'm of Paul, oh I'm of Peter, I'm of Christ.
They were puffed up, prideful. Paul draws them back to the scriptures as their guide. Notice verse six, learn in us not to think beyond what is written. Again MacArthur states that God's faithful servants should be treated with respect only within the bounds of what is scriptural and I'm going to give you two examples of that using the office of pastor but it could be in anything, any ministry, but we use the office of pastor. Example one, 1 Corinthians 5, 12 and 13, Paul wrote and we urge you brethren to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake and be at peace among yourself. Why don't I emphasize that their work is sharing the gospel or sharing the word, expositing the word, mining the word, giving the sense to the word, esteem them very highly in love for the word's sake.
That's the bottom line. Here's another example, Hebrews 13, 7, remember those who rule over you who have spoken the word of God to you whose faith follow considering the outcome of their conduct. Verse 17, obey those who rule over you and be submissive for they watch out for your souls as those who must give an account.
Let them do so with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you. So Paul draws them back to the scriptures as their guide for commending ministry. Notice verse 7, Paul admonished the Corinthians that God equips individuals to be faithful stewards of their gifts and talents and opportunities for service. There's no room for boasting. Verse 7, for who makes you differ from another and what do you have that you did not receive?
Now, if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as though you had not received it? We're not going to exposit, as I said, verses 8 through 13, but let me read it. If you'll follow along with me, then I want to give you a quote from Reformation Study Bible.
And folks, as I read this, keep in mind they were puffed up. If these verses don't give you a clear picture, illustration of that, nothing would. Paul said, you're already full.
You're already rich. You've reigned as kings without us and indeed I could wish that you did reign that we also might reign with you. For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last as men condemned to death. For we've been made a spectacle to the world, both to the angels and to men.
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are distinguished, but we are dishonored. To the present hour, we both hunger and thirst and are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless. We labor, working with our own hands, being reviled with bless, being persecuted we endure, being defamed we entreat. We've been made as the filth of the world, the off scouring of all things until now. What Paul is saying is this, we're nothing special.
This is not a vacation, if I can put it this way. This is tough sledding. It's all about the message and the ministry and not the messenger. Reformation Study Bible gives a quote. Let me find that real quickly. I cannot see where I had that quote and it's not all that important if I didn't.
Yeah, here it is. I'm sorry. Reformation Study Bible states, in this powerful passage, the apostle makes use of biting irony to show the Corinthians how trivial their concerns are and how unfair their criticisms are. In contrast to Paul, some of them think of themselves as notably successful, but only because they do not understand what it means to be fools for Christ's sake and stewards of the word. And beloved, let me say this again, that's way beyond just the office of pastor, fools for Christ's sake. I can tell you this, even, and I say this carefully, even against some Christian schools, when I simply try to do what I felt was right and what I expected from my guys and my gals, I got the sense that the opposing coach thought, get a life. Get a life.
It's a game. I'll never forget, and this happened about 30 years ago, I was in a meeting with all coaches and one of them ended up saying this, and it's talking about the attitude of the coach, whether he's an example or an excuse. One of them said this, well, I can tell you one thing, I don't teach Bible the way I coach or I don't coach the way I teach Bible.
And I say this guardedly folks, I hope you know my heart. I did. I did. I would say every year to Senior Bible, if I don't coach the way I'm teaching you Bible, you have no reason to listen to me. You have no reason to listen to me. Now, if you think for a second, we did not try to win, you're mistaken. We didn't walk out on the field, and I'm not saying this sarcastically or lightly, we didn't walk out on the field with our Bible under our arms. Hopefully what we did is walk out on the field with a Bible in our heads and our hearts and that showed up in our habits.
It's all about the message, and the message comes to a messenger, but the messenger has got to have the right attitude. That attitude is humility. In closing, I want you to turn back, if you would, to 1 Corinthians 3, and we're going to read verses five through nine where Paul asks a question and then he gives a revealing answer.
And beloved, as I read this, look at how many times he's addressed this puffed up pride on their part. Verse five, he says, who then is Paul and who is Apollos but ministers to whom you believed as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we're God's fellow workers. You are God's field.
You are God's building. The New King James Version asks, who is Paul and who is Apollos? The ESV asks, what then is Paul and what then is Apollos?
Why did I use those other translations? Beloved, stewardship is not about the who unless the who is the Lord Jesus Christ. It's about the what? The glory of the Lord.
Can I read that again? And that's the essence of the message. Stewardship is not about the who unless the who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why? Because he's the living word sharing the written word. It's not about the who unless the who is the Lord Jesus Christ. It's about the what serving for the glory of God. I want to close with a comparison at the end of which I ask you to identify the true steward. I am going to contrast two people and then we'll make an application and be done.
But listen if you would carefully. Lakewood Church in Houston has about 43,500 weekly visitors. Like most mega churches that it features production like services equipped with things that foster a religious experience. Next to a website photo of pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen is this invitation. Quote, at Lakewood we believe your best days are still out in front of you. Whether you're joining us in person or online, we invite you to experience our services and be a part of the Lakewood family. The Bible says when you are planted in the house of the Lord you will flourish.
Get ready to step into a new level of your destiny. Osteen is one of the most famous figures associated with the prosperity gospel or the idea that financial success is a result of faith in God. In an interview Osteen said the following, some people preach about hell like you're already going there.
I want to say that again. Some people preach about hell like you're already going there and to me the gospel means good news. I'd rather say God is a God of mercy so I think the people already know what they're doing wrong and certainly I believe in hell but to me when I see thousands of people before me it just doesn't come out of me to say you guys are terrible and you're going to hell. I'd rather say that God is a God of mercy. You've got to live an obedient life but for every mistake you've made there's mercy there and I believe we can do better. Do you see how he has laced truth in with gross error?
Where's the error? Listen to this question. How does this line up with John 3.18 Joel? He who believes in him is not condemned but he who does not believe is condemned already because he's not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Beloved the glitz, the lights, the no-fault message filled with half-truths taken out of context and delivered by a charismatic Pied Piper draws a crowd to a fatal attraction.
Now the flip side. On a mission trip to Cordoba Mexico I went to the Mexican Indian Training Center where Mark Webb often ministers. I had the opportunity to speak through an interpreter to the student body and in three churches. On Sunday morning the church was large, well furnished and in the city.
Sunday evening church was smaller, more on the outskirts of the city but still respectable in size. Later in the week we took a bus ride up into the mountains where I was to preach at a very small church. En route I learned that prior to becoming the pastor the man who now filled that role had moved to the states years earlier. He secured a good paying job and sent funds back home. While in the states God saved him. God burdened him to give up the security of a job and return to Mexico to witness to his unsaved loved ones. He realized that they needed the gospel infinitely more than money. He got instruction at the Mexican Indian Training Center. He became the pastor of the small mountain church at which I was to speak. Once we got to the destination we walked up a dirt path with small huts on either side. I was not prepared for what I saw when we got to the church.
The small concrete building had no glass in the window so obviously there was no air conditioning. The hodgepodge of metal chairs made up the seating. As I recall a guitar, a violin, some drums for the accompaniment for the music. Then I was introduced to Pastor Bernardo. In appearance he was a humble looking man who was soft spoken. After singing some songs and listening to him through an interpreter it came time for me to speak. I was overwhelmed when I considered what he had given up to become the pastor of this small group of people in a poor remote mountain community.
No glitz, no charisma, no promise of wealth. He was a servant of Christ. He was a faithful steward of the gospel. From me ministering to this small out of the way lighthouse for truth was an experience that I will not forget.
Question. Comparing the two to which one do you think God will one day say well good, well done good and faithful servant. I would say that it is Pastor Bernardo whose best days lie ahead. I would say that it is he who will hear God say well done.
Enter into the joy of your Lord. And what about the Joel Osteen's of the world? I believe there's coming a day when they'll look in the rear view mirror of their lives and realize their best days are behind them. What is ahead for them? What is ahead for them? God will be the judge. And folks if I had to trade places with either one of them it wouldn't be the first.
It would be the second. Application. Every believer is a steward of time, talent, treasure and opportunities given by God. The attitude of the steward is to be humble like a galley slave or a servant accountable to his master. The actions of the steward he's to be faithful to manage everything placed in his care by his master. The assessment of the steward he must stay focused upon God's judgment and not mankind's. The ability of the steward he understands that God equips him for his purpose and for his glory.
Let's pray. Father I ask that you take what I've shared tonight and use it as you see fit. Lord help us to realize that if you have saved us we are stewards. We are stewards of our time and our talent and our treasure. We are stewards of the ministries to which you called us. Father I pray that you never let us lose sight of that and help us to be focused upon it. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
