1 Corinthians 4: 1-21.
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will 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. 6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos 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. 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 if you had not received it? 8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 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! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”

We’ve been studying through First Corinthians and we saw last week that there is a day of judgment that is set for every single person that is building. We are all building something, whether you agree with that or not, because of the calling that God has given to you. First of all, if you are not building upon Jesus Christ, then the day will come when you are tested, and because your foundation is not strong, you’re gonna fail and fall, and everything that you’ve built up is going to collapse. But there is also another warning that even if you’re building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and you’re using materials that are not silver, gold and precious stones, you are also going to face ruin on the Day of Judgment because you will be tested with fire.

If you’ve built your life using wood, hay and straw, it is all going to be burnt up on the Day of Judgment when the fiery eyes of Jesus Christ will look through your heart and reveal the things that are hidden. It will be brought to light and consumed. You will then know that it had no value whatsoever. So be careful, as Paul says, “Be careful how you build your life, your ministry, the church.” We also saw that Paul was addressing another group of people that were destroying the temple of God. This morning, we see Paul continuing on in his defense about the ministry that he is doing. As we spoke in the previous messages – bashing the pastor; bashing the minister; bashing those people who are serving in the church has been the favorite sport in the church in Corinth. Believers in the church of Corinth love judging people based on their personalities and their abilities – or the lack thereof, such as being able to speak eloquently. They were judging based upon just the outward appearance. And Paul is addressing that, saying, “You people think you are so great and wise that you can judge others. I want to let you know that you are being carnal.”

As we said very clearly that the people who are carnal aren’t the ones that have no knowledge of the Word or come irregularly to church. But there are people who are in the church and attend regularly, who know the Word and still choose to start silly issues within the church. That is basically what carnality is about. Paul is saying that the people in the church – including those who are in the position of leadership – must properly think about the calling that God has given to them. The church also must think properly regarding the calling that was given to those who are ministering in the church. In verse one, he starts off using the word ‘regard’ or ‘consider.’ Though it is a long passage, I want to bring out three main points from this.

NUMBER ONE: The first point I want to bring across is that the standard of Christian leaders is set by God alone. In verse one, the word ‘regard’ means to make certain calculations. You make certain decisions regarding the minister or the person who’s preaching. Paul goes on to tell us to consider them or to ‘calculate’ them as servants. Now the word ‘servant’ is a very unique word used in the Bible. It basically means ‘under-rower.’ You know the big ships back in those days didn’t have steam/electrical engines or generators. Back in those times, there would be people, usually servants, who would be given the task to row. These slaves would be chained to the row. You’ve probably seen this in movies. There would be a master who would stand there and whip them to make sure that they were rowing. That is what the word is and in fact, it means the one who is at the lowest point of rowing. That is the toughest place. As you keep going lower, it becomes much harder to row because of the water pressure. That’s the word he uses there.

Paul tells them to consider ministers, to evaluate, calculate and think about them as the under-rowers who are working in the belly of the ship, rowing the boat. And the responsibility of the under-rower is to obey whatever directions the captain gives. Orders will come from the captain’s deck saying, “Okay, we have to travel at this speed and direction with so-and-so knots. The rowers duty is to row in that direction. That’s what the pastor’s job is. It’s very tough. Paul is saying that the job of the minister is not to move in the direction that he wants it to be moved, but to move the church in the direction that Christ wants it to be moved. Paul also uses another word in addition to servants of Christ, which is ‘stewards.’ The word for steward is actually another Greek word which basically means a master of the household. This is the same root word for ‘economics’ as well. It basically means that one must be calculating and must be a good manager of the household of God.

So Paul’s point here is to not consider the preacher or the pastor as Superman. Do not think that he’s the one that needs to be highlighted. He isn’t the one with the greatest honour, he is simply a servant doing his job and a steward in the household of God. He qualifies them as stewards of the mysteries of God. They are not doing this based on their own agenda, but rather they are stewards of the mysteries of God. We will see a little bit more of that later on. In verse 2 he says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” That faithfulness, again, is in the mystery that God has revealed. The most important point here is that ministers must be faithful people who are rowing the boat, even through tough times in order to be stewards and unravel the mysteries of God. That is the primary duty of a pastor. I pray that there are more pastors and more ministers that will come out of this church.

All of you young people, remember this. When you are called to minister or to be even a leader among men and women, the main thing that God expects of you is faithfulness. God is not bothered about your talent, your abilities or your reputation. That is not what God is going to consider except for faithfulness. We see that when the master had returned back and was taking an account, he said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” The word faithfulness basically means consistency. It means to set your mind on something and keep pursuing that faithfully. It is describing a condition. Faithfulness is an objective that is describing who you are, the faith that you have, and how you are pursuing that faith. That is when you become faithful.

Faithfulness doesn’t depend on your emotions or the circumstance – when the sun is out, and it’s nice and bright and all is well. Faithfulness is displayed especially during those difficult days, even when your physical body is not cooperating with you. You still get up and continue to do what God has called you to do. For Paul, it was very, very important that he was a faithful minister of the minute mysteries of God. Paul says to the elders in Ephesus, in Acts 20 verses 20, 21 and 27 and also in 2 Timothy 4:13 how important it was for him to be faithful to the Word of God. Even in his dying times, Paul tells Timothy to bring the scrolls, so that he could study the Word of God and be diligent in what God had called him to do. He uses the word ‘diligent’ again in 2 Timothy 2:15, it says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The word ‘required’ means that it is demanded of you. God demands that you be faithful.

Faithfulness to God’s commandments was more important to Paul than his own life, no matter where he went and what he did. He repeats that, again and again, in his letters. So the standard for a Christian leader is set by God himself and no human court can judge the faithfulness that you have towards God. Paul says in verse 3 that it is of a very small thing that he be judged by the church in Corinth about his faithfulness to God. He also adds that he doesn’t even judge himself either. His conscience is clear and he doesn’t need to rely on it.

Sometimes you have these doubts, especially if you’re called to minister and if you’re a pastor. Your conscience asks you, “Am I doing enough? Is this right?” Your own conscience speaks against you sometimes and it is a struggle. You’re always judging yourself based upon your conscience. However, the only judgment we must submit to is the judgment of God. Paul says, “I will wait until the Lord tells me, ‘Thou good and faithful servant.'” Paul doesn’t brag about his faithfulness. He didn’t say, “Oh I travelled here, met new people and preached my heart out,” only to tell himself that he did a good job. He doesn’t let his conscience judge him. You could also take it the other way and tell yourself, “Oh, I’ve not been so good. I could not travel here. I couldn’t speak with this person. I couldn’t preach this Sunday as effectively as I thought I could.” None of that matters because you’re going to stand before God and he is going to declare your faithfulness. He will reveal what’s there in your heart.

In verse 5, it says, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will 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.” That, my friends, is your goal. That when you stand before God, and He reveals what’s hidden in your heart, and He brings them to light, He will say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Or He could also say, “You wicked and slothful and faithless servant.” Until the Lord passes judgment, hold on to yours.

Now, I’m not saying that the church should not judge the doctrines taught or the preacher. I don’t think Paul is saying that here. But he’s very clearly saying that, having an attitude of trying to bring down the person who’s preaching in the church just based on the outward appearances is a big mistake. Doing so will only cause two divisions and lead to factions within the church. Some people say, “I will follow this man because I think he’s better,” when everybody’s the same. Verse 7 says, “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 if you had not received it?” Paul questions what they’ve received that they boast so. This is not your birthright, that you have to have all these things in order for you to preach. All these abilities are given to you by the Lord!

So the first point is that the standard of a Christian leader is set by God alone. It is God who is going to ultimately judge people and reveal the hidden things in their heart. Let’s not be people who pass on judgment before the Lord passes the judgment – whether it’s done in prayer way or not.

NUMBER TWO: Suffering is a hallmark of Christian ministry. When God has called you to do minister and to serve Him, He has called you to suffer along with Him. Paul says that the church has been reigning as kings; as though they have no care. Paul tells the church look at the way that the ministers have served among them. Verse 8 onwards, “You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 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! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

Working in ministry, you basically become scum. Have y’all ever washed dishes that are very greasy? The scum is all the dirt and grease that accumulates at the bottom. That’s what Paul describes the ministers to have become. Now, I’ve seen so many young people that love, especially these days, celebrity pastors. They’re always dressed the best. There’s an Instagram account called ‘Preachers and Sneakers.’ Each pair of sneakers that these pastors wear are thousands of dollars. They live in million dollar homes too. Compare that with what Paul is saying. He’s poor, homeless, and doesn’t have proper clothes. He works with his own hands and doesn’t simply take money from other people. I’m not against churches supporting pastors, but I’m against those pastors who know they have people suffering in the church, and yet take a big salary. I just cannot justify that. Work hard with your own hands and earn your own money.

I once met a very young person that was wanting to get into ministry and he said, “I want the best. I want a nice, comfortable house and car for my family. I want the best support package, otherwise I’m just gonna be a little bit disappointed with the ministry.” I had to teach him a lesson that being in ministry does not mean that you’ll get to enjoy the best of things. It’s labor and intense work. Only if you’re ready for times where you will lack things and even have to go hungry or less clothed will you be ready and faithful to serve God. Otherwise, my friend, you’re gonna be super disappointed.

There are people that are minting money. They charge you for their services, if you have a prayer request or want to be blessed, they charge you. If it’s a prayer for a new job, it’s X amount of money. If you’re searching for a spouse, or if you want children, or healing you put X amount of money into the envelope. If a prayer request comes without money, they just toss it out. And I’m sure they just keep the money and throw the prayer request out as well. I hope at least some of them are praying, but it has become a business for a lot of people. They somehow think being in ministry means making money. That is the exact opposite of God’s calling for us.

All the apostles were in physical pain; they didn’t have enough food and drink and clothing, shelter. They were simple ordinary laborers who were mistreated. How much does this contrast to our modern day preachers that we see? Paul is saying that if you are called to ministry, you have to be ready to face this lifestyle. Paul says, “We did all these things for the sake of the church.” So that the church could be prosperous and rule and reigning with Jesus Christ. You cannot do that on your own if you are passing judgments on people and trying to live a comfortable life. You have no rights to judge the people serving in the church, in that way.

Paul tells the church that even though they are mistreated, they try to endure it and make peace so they can bless the church. They as servants of God were giving the most. That is very typically opposite in a church. Who is the one who receives most in the church? The pastor is. Paul says that if you are called to minister, you should be the most giving person. You must lay down your life in order to serve with the Lord – in His sufferings as well.

NUMBER THREE: The minister’s relationship to the church is that of a parent or that of a father. Now let me give you an illustration. Let’s say there are two scenarios. The child comes up to his parent and says, “Mommy, mommy, I want to go with my friends out today for a party. I won’t be coming home for the night. I’m just going to spend the whole night out.” And the mother says, “Oh, you’re going? Do you want some money?” The child thinks how great his mom is because she’s doing everything he asked for.

Second scenario: the child comes up to their parent and says, “Mom, I want to go party with my friends. We’ll be out the whole night, partying. Can I go?” The mother says no and the child becomes grumpy, storms off and says, “You are such a bad mother. You don’t let me enjoy anything, you don’t give me anything. I only asked you for a very small favor. You don’t give me any freedom.” Who do you think is correct here? Paul is saying that he could be either one of them, depending upon our behaviour. Having started the church in Corinth, he describes himself as a father to them. They may have had many other stewards and people who came there and preached the gospel, but Paul says that he fathered the church and thus he has that right and authority.

Paul tells them not to think that Paul won’t correct. The church in Corinth became notorious; like little children running around, doing their own things. Paul had already sent one letter to them and he also sent them Timothy. Now this was the second letter that he was writing to them because of the quarrels they were having with each other. Paul admonishes them saying, “Listen, I am like your father and I can come with a rod, or I can come to you graciously.” The church has to decide how they will respond to this situation. In verse 15 onwards, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”

The term ‘puffed up’ is the word arrogant. They have become inflated. How do proud people walk? They walk five inches above the ground because they are so inflated. Paul says that they are so inflated and puffed up that they cannot touch the ground. That’s the picture he illustrates. They are floating around, thinking great of themselves. Paul warns them that when he comes to them, their word is not going to prevail, but the Word of God because the word of God is going to be in power. It will be their word against the word of God. The word for ‘rod’ is stick. So Paul is telling them that he is going to be a disciplining father. If they want a gentle father, the church has to decide how to respond.

As much as this is true, we often hear about the abuse of pastors but there’s another side of the congregation becoming unruly. And a carnal congregation must be corrected. Even if Paul has to come to correct the church, he would still be considered as a faithful minister to the Lord because of the power of the Word of God. Sometimes I have felt that way. I feel like bringing out the rod on that person and say, “What in the world are you doing? Come on!” But I’ve restrained myself and allowed them more time and it has always worked. But don’t take it to the extent where you would have to bring a rod of correction.

I’ve seen some really senior pastors, especially when dealing with some of the youth, actually use a rod. They took care of the situation, because the person has become very unruly. You don’t want to use that, it is very ugly. But still it is beneficial for the church. Paul then sets this premise of correcting the church in chapter five onwards. The first thing that he’s going to address is the issue of sexual immorality in the church.

To recap the three points.
– The ultimate evaluator and judge of your life is Jesus Christ.
– To be a minister means to suffer with Christ.
– We sometimes need the correction of the Father, especially in the church. As a member in the congregation, it is your responsibility to decide which way the minister should approach you – with the rod or with gentleness.

May God bless you, I hope you’ve learned some things about the church. I think it’s important that we all understand and mature and grow in these areas as well. May the Lord bless you.