Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Servants, Stewards, and Spiritual Parents – Part 1

1 Corinthians 4:1-6 “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 

 

A couple weeks ago, Pastor Kyle continued our church’s Sunday sermon series trough the epistle of 1 Corinthians with preaching on chapter 4. We have heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, as pictures can be powerful because they show us the lived out meaning of the word. The Bible is full of words that instruct us in our walk with God, as to what the godly, righteous and holy life is to look like and how the children of God are to be. Some of the most powerful, poignant and popular passages in Scripture deal with word-pictures that show us what the Lord is like (the Lion, the Rock, the Shepherd, etc.). When we experience a word-picture of God, it helps us to understand how we are to respond as a result and live as a result. In Chapter four (above), the Apostle Paul uses three poignant and very distinct word-pictures of servants, stewards and spiritual parents.  

 

Paul states, this is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. This is how we are to view ministry leaders and every Christian as well. There is a lot of sophisticated biblical terminology about the wisdom and philosophies of this world verses the wisdom of God. But, Paul uses the common word of “servant” and “steward”, that everyone would be able to picture in their mind, to communicate the message. 


In Mark 9:35, Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Every Christian is a servant first. 

 

God expects to find His stewards acting faithfully. On a modern luxury cruise ship, you have a hotel services Room Steward who manages and maintains your State Room to your desires. But, the 1826 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “steward” in Scripture and theology, as a minister of Christ, whose duty is to dispense the provisions of the gospel, to preach its doctrines and administer its ordinances. Stewardship is one of the primary metaphors used that describes how Believers think about our earthly existence. In a legal sense, stewards, factors, bailifs and other agents, are servants for the time they are employed in such character, as they act in subordination to others. Stewards do not own anything of this that they serve; they manage the affairs of someone else and take nothing when they leave. But, a steward manages everything as if they did own it. The same is true for every Christian when it comes to our things on earth, because everything that we have is 100% from God, is 100% temporary and is on loan to us., so you can’t take it with you when you go. Because we belong to the Lord, and everything comes from God, we have access to whatever we need for a godly life, but it doesn’t belong to us. We have to manage and do what God wants with His provision given to us. 

 

In addition, every Christian is a steward of God doctrinal principles for their life and a steward for the Gospel. Stewarding the Gospel of Jesus Christ means that we are all responsible to manage the most treasured reality in our lives. Being stewards of the mysteries of God, is having the responsibility to make sure that the subject matter is correct, understandable and accessible to everyone as we go make disciples of all nations, taking the Gospel to the people. Our thoughts, words and lives are the exhibit that is on display for the world to see Christ in us. We note the areas in our Christian walk and within our heart, mind and soul that we can work on to grow and mature for good stewardship and for who we are representing. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful, not a suggestion or an option.            

 

Verse five states that the Lord will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. There is a Judgment Day coming for everyone at the end of this earthly existence, where each life (thought, word, intention, motivation and deed) is exposed completely for what it was (the good, the bad and the ugly) on display for all to see. The implication is the no steward of God gets off the hook for anything. People can outwit people, but nobody outwits God, who looks at your heart. All of our fleshly heart in this fallen world are tempted to sin and do what is “wrong in the eyes of the Lord”. When we see the sinfulness of sin, we repent, ask for help from God, and choose to do “right”, walking in the Spirit. The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16-21, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery [drug abuse], enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”


Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on 1 Corinthians chapter 5 in the next post.

In Christ, Brian

No comments: