Servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God

1 Corinthians 4 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Servants of Christ

4 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. ³ But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. ⁴ For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. ⁵ Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

⁶ Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. ⁷ For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

⁸ You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. ⁹ For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. ¹¹ To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; ¹² and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. ²¹ What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. There are many today who are servants of Christ, many who do various good works, missions and ministry in the name of Christ. But in many ways the church has failed as stewards of the mysteries of God. I had a conversation with someone just yesterday, about how many children and adults too would know almost nothing about the people and events in the Bible if it were not for Disney or other Hollywood productions. Producers of entertainment however are not trustworthy stewards of the mysteries of God and those who view such productions tend to view Biblical events in much the same way as they do other productions. Biblical characters and events are seen as myths and legends not actual accounts of the mysteries, power and plan of God.

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 the Israelites were encouraged to be good stewards of God’s word.    “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  

Verse 7 says we are to diligently teach our children, talking to them when we sit in our houses, when we walk (or drive) when we lie down and when we rise up. Television and technology have taken over and taken away the conversation and communication in and from most families. If we will really look at the content of TV, music, video games and social media we would not allow our children to be taught through these media. But it is work to be good stewards of the mysteries and truth of God. It requires sacrifice and diligence. Even in our churches we have too often substituted teaching and training our children with  entertaining and occupying them. Many of our “worship” services are structured more for entertainment than for worshiping God and studying His word.

What though are the mysteries of God we are called to be stewards of?  Paul closes today’s text saying: …  I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. The mysteries of God are not the word of God. There is no mystery to it, the word of God is truth. The mysteries of God are the unexplainable occurrences in the lives of believers. The mysteries of God are the power of God displayed in the lives of His people. The power to uproot trees: "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.(Luke 17:6) The power to move mountains: "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen.(Matthew 21:21)  The power Jesus describes in Mark 16:17-18. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

It is also the power to live changed lives and to love others.   If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.(1 John 4:20)  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 5:16)

That is what we should do, how we should live as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit for the privilege I have in being both Your servant and steward of Your mysteries and power. It is only through You that I can begin to fulfill that privilege, that responsibility and call in my life. Fill me, overwhelm me with Your presence and power. Like John the Baptist, I say You must increase, but I must decrease.  Amen