The Status of Paul, and You!

When we are conscripted into the ranks of Christianity, what is our status? How are we to act? What is our "job?" When we are saved, we want to serve God, we want to show Him our appreciation, and we want to show our love for Him.

1 Cor. 4:1  "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."

Paul, speaks again of the apostles and leaders within Christian circles of the day. In the previous few chapters he warns against following man rather than God. 1 Cor. 1:12-13 "What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.'  (13)  Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" So moving on from that discussion, he talks about how we should regard the apostles. He says that we should regard them as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. The word “servant” actually speaks of one who is a subordinate, yet is also above others. An example would be an officer: they are teachers, shepherds (pastors), and they lead the flock under the direction of God. In the Parable of the Talents in Mathew 25, God gives different servants a different number of talents. Through this, He shows that those servants have a responsibility to work with it and do their best to multiply it. Overseers, or elders, are also stewards Titus 1:7 "For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain." It goes on to say in verse nine: “he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine…” God’s roles for His stewards are various, meaning that His stewards and servants are all people who are His children.  We have all been given His mysteries, and it’s our job to protect sound doctrine, and to be able to teach it, not only to believers, but to unbelievers, too. One of the mysteries of God is shown here: Eph. 3:6 "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."   This is one of the “mysteries” of God. These mysteries of God are the mysteries of the Gospel. Through that you can conclude that our job it to guard the integrity of the Gospel, and (as the parable of the talents shows) we are to be multiply it. (This does not mean adding to the Gospel, but that it’s our job to use the Gospel and to spread it, and thus, it shall multiply.)

1 Cor. 4:2 "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

Speaking again of the apostles, Paul talks about how their duties should be performed, and really, it explains why it’s not for human praise, but because they are stewards. They have been tasked by somebody above them,to do a job. A steward is an overseer or a manager. The apostles were overseers of the Gospel and of the church. They are to be found faithful, or trustworthy, meaning if one does not perform his duties properly and honestly, he won’t be a steward very long, or his stewardship will be limited. It’s a requirement for stewards that they are found honest and trustworthy and faithful. Joseph, back in Exodus 39, was placed as an overseer of Potiphar’s household. Joseph says: “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, hand he has put everything he has in my charge.” As we can see, this is no menial place. Being an overseer is a great responsibility, for if something goes wrong, or you mess up. It’s going to be your responsibility, not anybody else’s. I can’t emphasis enough how great of a responsibility this is. Luk. 17:2  "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." The responsibility for the apostles and the teachers is great, in fact, it says that if somebody leads a little one to sin, it would be better for them to die. Moreover, if we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, how much more should we be fearful and careful that we guard doctrine, that we seek truth, and that we teach the truth?

1 Cor. 4:3-4 "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.  (4)  For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me."

Paul is talking here about what he already has been talking about in the previous verses, he says that they should regard them as servants (which I talked about in regard to the notion that one should follow a human being like Paul or Apollos, and how foolish that notion is). We should regard them as servants, and because he believes he is a servant of the living God and nothing else, he takes it as very small when somebody judges him. The word judgement in the original language has an implication that goes with it to mean “investigated” or “scrutinized;” therefore, Paul says that he holds it a very small thing that somebody should investigate him, how well he’s doing, or how close he is to God. The reason being that if he is a servant of God, the only opinion that really matters, is that of God. Moreover, he goes on to say that he doesn’t even judge himself. You might say “Well, he knows how he’s doing, doesn’t he?” Well, the answer is no, he doesn’t. We have a perspective tainted by our self-love, our pride, and our selfishness. As Paul says here: “For I am not aware of anything against myself.” There are sins and there are issues in our walk that we are unaware of, both good and bad. This means that the only one who can truly judge us is God, who is the only one who has a perfect perspective on reality and on our actions.

Paul says he isn’t acquitted of sins just because he doesn’t know they exist, because God still sees them. Although we can often see our mistakes, there are always mistakes and sins in our lives that we are unable to see. David calls them hidden faults. Psa. 19:12-13  "Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  (13)  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." David is clear that there are two kinds of sins: hidden sins and presumptuous sins (willful or arrogant sins). Both are sins, and David asks to be forgiven for them because he knows he can’t discern all of his own sins, but God can.

1 Cor. 4:5  "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."

People are quick to say “that guy is in it for himself” (I am also quick to do this). However, we can’t know the internal purposes of the heart, and really, that matters just as much or more than the external actions. The fact of the matter is, until God sheds light on the intentions, we should not pronounce judgment on somebody. Some interesting wording here indicates that right now our deepest intentions are in the dark, but when Christ comes into our hearts it brings light to us. Then, when we are all in judgment  before God, Christ, being light, will expose us completely and there will be no part of us that can’t be examined by men and by God. In that time, we will receive our commendation from God, or our reward. We seek to hear this which is told in Matt. 25:23 “His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'”  We gain a reward for being faithful, however, we also must be careful as is the warning here: 2 John 1:8  "Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward." We need to be careful; we need to be faithful. Moreover, this doesn’t mean that we should not be careful of our actions just because we can’t rightfully judge them. The Holy Spirit resides within us and identifies our sins, and identifies our faults. When identified, we have no excuse not to act on our knowledge of them, because if we truly believe in what Christ has done, we will seek to serve Him with all of our might and all of our worth. If we don’t, we are showing we don’t truly believe in Him and His works. This is clearly seen in Romans: Rom. 6:15-18  "What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!  (16)  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?  (17)  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,  (18)  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." When we are saved, we are submitting to be servants, friends, and stewards of God. We are supposed to act like it, we are to spread His word, and we are to obey Him, Acts 10:42  "And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead." This, in context, was in regard to the apostles who ate and drank with Christ. But the commission has been given to us as well as to them. 1 John 5:2-3  "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments.  (3)  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." God is clear on what truly shows that we love Him and shows us how to truly live for Him.


In conclusion, do you regard those in authority in your church as servants of Christ? And do you see yourself as a steward with a dire warning if you do nothing with that responsibility? If you are like the timid, slothful servant, what kind of reception do you expect when you are before God, answering for your actions here on earth? We are called to produce, we are called to serve Him, and we are to proclaim His name to all the nations and to all people. Are you?