<1 Co 4>
1 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
1. Care little about human judgment <v3>.
1) Humans are not adequate judges.
- Limited knowledge >>> partial and biased judgments.
- “I do not even judge myself” >>> self-accusation or self-arrogance.
2) God then is the ultimate Judge <v4-5>.
- <v5> only God can “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart”.
- Doesn’t matter if humans give us good or bad review, most important is how God appraises us.
- More stressful to be judged by God than men.
- But God is also more gracious than men.
3) Does not mean no need for human discernment.
- Bible also asks believers to make good judgment/discernment.
- Try our best to make good judgment, but be humble enough to realise our assessment cannot be considered final.
4) Should still humbly consider human feedback but not let it absorb us.
- Do not ignore truth spoken to us in love.
- Believers should still examine themselves.
- Guard against (a) pride and (b) discouragement.
2. Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. <v2>
1) Chief criteria for good stewardship: Faithfulness.
- Nothing we have belongs to us, all come from God.
- God is no beggar, but He is the richest Provider.
- Only right to use what is the Lord’s for His purposes.
2) A faithful steward will NOT:
- Be stingy to use God’s things on Him.
- Be lazy and careless.
- Be very busy, but only with trivial things not important to the Master.
- Be pleasing men instead of God.
- Misuse or waste what God entrusted him.
- Neglect anyone from the household of Christ.
3) A good and faithful steward WILL:
- Be God-centred, seeking to please God.
- Be well-connected to Christ (through prayers, His word).
- Use whatever God has entrusted him for God’s glory.
- Gospel truth – guard it from distortions and preach it to others.
- Unique gifts and roles.
- Even problems can be testimonies.
- Look after the interests of everyone in the household of Christ.
- Reflect the image of his Master.
- Exercise whole life stewardship, not merely money or time, etc stewardship.
Reflection:
- How much do you care about how people judge you? How much do you trust your own self-appraisal? How can you balance not being bound by human appraisal while at the same time humbly reflecting upon truths that people speak to you out of love?
- Do you see yourself as a faithful steward of God? How do you think you can be a better and more faithful steward of God?
