I Corinthians Study I Corinthians 4:1-21 Following Godly Examples in Ministry

Pressing on in our study of I Corinthians, Chapter 4:1 introduces us to the fact that a minister of Christ is a steward of the mysteries of God.  A steward is a person who managed the household for the owner.  As a minister of Christ, I am responsible to dispense God’s word to His people.  In a sense, we are all ministers of God, and our responsibility is to share God’s word with others.  And as stewards of God, we should be faithful (v. 2).

In verses 3-4, as servants of God, our ministries will be judged by others.  We are not immune from the opinions and estimations of others as we minister to others.  Paul was concerned about how others felt about him as he ministered to others; however, he did not allow his life to be directed by others!  We cannot avoid being judged by others!  Although Paul’s life was not guided by the opinions of others, Paul didn’t even value the opinion he even had of himself; however, he said that the Supreme Judge is the Lord.  As servants of God, each of us will appear before the Supreme Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, at the bema or judgment seat of Christ.

Brothers and sisters, we will be judged for our stewardship!  God has entrusted us with a stewardship and let us be found faithful!  We are not to sit in judgment of others because the Lord is the One who will ultimately judge us.  The hidden works of darkness will come to light in the presence of Jesus Christ (v. 5).  Referring to himself and Apollos, Paul related that he and Apollos were examples of men under authority who did not go beyond what was written.  They wholly obeyed God’s word and did not follow worldly opinions.

From the examples of Paul and Apollos, Paul hoped that the Corinthians would learn the lesson of humility, a virtue that the Corinthians should embrace in view of the fact that God grants gifts on the basis of His grace.  As believers, we should never glory in the gifts God grants, but we should use our gift for His glory (vv. 6-7).  Paul went on to stress that the posture of humility should be embraced by all Christians.  The Corinthians must understand that believers must suffer because their lives were a spectacle unto the world, and to angels and to men (vv. 8-9).

Following the path of Christ’s humiliation, Paul related how the Apostles lived out the message of the cross.  Paul addressed the Corinthian believers as his spiritual children, for Paul had planted the seed that brought them life (Galatians 3:24). Paul did not wish to shame the Corinthians, but he admonished them to imitate him as Timothy had done.  Paul’s way of life in Christ, was in turn an imitation of the Lord.

In verses 18-21, Paul knew that not all would be moved by his appeal, but some would be arrogant, which was the cause of the Corinthians’ problem of division. When Paul preached to the Corinthians, he preached in the power of the Spirit.  He will preach in the same power as he disciplines them.  As a loving father, Paul knew that he could not shy away from discipline (Hebrews 12:7).  However, he preferred that when he visited them that his visit would be characterized by love and a gentle spirit.

May God Bless!