Sermons

FOLLOW THE SERVANT
“Live the Difference”
I Corinthians 4:1-13

We are continuing our search of Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians and today we are in Chapter 4, so if you would like to follow along you are invited to find that in your Bibles and we’ll get to it in a moment. 

We have previously learned that the Corinthians have failed to have the correct perspective when it came to themselves, their church leaders and even God.

They had failed “to live the difference.”
How about us?
Are we living the difference the Spirit makes in us?

The Corinthians were failing miserably in this area. Instead of living lives characterized by dependence on the Holy Spirit, they were bragging about their self-sufficiency.

Instead of depending on the Holy Spirit, they were satisfying themselves with their own wisdom.

Instead of recognizing God’s work in their lives, they exalted their own superiority.

The Corinthians were filled with self-importance, and in so doing, their thinking was distorted when it came to the leadership of the church.

The Corinthian church was dealing with conflict between groups within the larger group. There seemed to be many rivaling parties, vying for superiority within the church. As a result, disunity was prevalent.

The problem that the Corinthians were having is that they had a distorted view on how leaders ought to be viewed. 

A desire to dominate and become jealous over the loss of influence can easily work its way into any given situation, the way leaders ought to work can become a point of dissension instead of unity.

As a result…We can either raise them too highly or attempt to bring them down.

And churches have been known to do this…We can raise one leader to the point of unblemished saint-hood, while we rake the next one over in such a way that we have made him the devil’s cousin. Neither way is realistic or Biblical.

Paul encourages us all to have a proper perspective when it comes to our leaders. He calls us to not forget this when it comes to the subject of leadership.

During last week’s study, we under-stood that each of the leaders that had influence in Corinth…Paul, Apollos and Peter…came from God. And Paul said, “All are yours.” They all belonged to the church. And it wasn’t a matter of superiority. It was a matter of teamwork.

Today, we are asking the question, “Why?” Why should we follow the leaders of the church? Why was Paul even making a case for himself in this regard?
 
We find in our study two characteristics that demonstrate why we follow the leaders God gives.

The first characteristic is STEWARDSHIP. Look with me in verses (1-5).                                           Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

You have heard it said to follow the leader.
I want you to know that…We need to follow the servants.

Paul refers to his leadership position as one of a servant. The term for servants in this passage is really “under rowers.” Under rowers were the slaves who rowed the huge Roman galleys.

They were the most menial, the most despised, the hardest worked, most cruelly punished, least appreciated, and the lowest ranking of slaves. Paul says, “that’s who we (Paul, Peter, Apollos) are.”

These were ones that were under orders, taking directions from the captain. Because they were in the deepest level of the ship, they didn’t know where the ship was going. Nevertheless, their task was rather simple – it was to work hard, work in harmony and obey the captain.

Don’t view us as exalted leaders to follow or oppose, but simply esteem us as common servants, doing what we can to please Christ our Master. We are striving for the advancement of the Word of God for your edification.

He says that these teachers are simply Christ’s stewards that have been entrusted with the gospel (the mysteries of God).

They were stewards, commissioned to manage and oversee the distribution of and application of the gospel and the Bride of Christ. Their work is important, but their rank is low.

So, in application, leaders in the church should be regarded as servant-leaders. It is their task to propel the church forward under the authority of Jesus. Jesus gives the orders. Servant-leaders work together, following the orders, in order for the body to grow in the faith.

Immediately, Paul switches to another metaphor… We must remember that our leaders are stewards of the good news.

Paul also says to think of us as “house managers.” This word was used of servants who were entrusted with the property, money, and interests of the master, and instructed to carry out his will. 

It was a position of authority, making the needed crucial decisions, in the place of the master. 

Christian leadership is not an authority thing, although authority is there; it is a servant thing. If you want to be great, serve the most. Get the least appreciation and the harshest treatment, then deal with it. 

If our Lord received it, why do we think that we deserve better? We are to view pastors, teachers, missionaries, and all believers as under rowers, laboring to make known the gospel of Christ because of His command. 

This has a big impact on how we view ourselves, and the person sitting beside us in the pew. Because all believers are managers working together to take care of the Bride and the gospel. Proper view of ourselves, with this perspective, brings humility. 

If I asked five family members, and five coworkers if you were a humble person, thinking little of self, and much of others, what would they say? 

As a manager, how are you managing your stewardship of the kingdom, the church, the family that you have? Are you building up those around you, serving them as an under rower for Jesus? 

Paul saw himself as a steward, as should all leaders and believers in the church. For we are stewards of the mysteries of God. These mysteries are the provisions that the household of God needs. They are the revelation of God. 

And what has God revealed? He has revealed His plan of salvation, and though it was long hidden to human minds (and thus the mystery), it is now revealed in Christ.

Leaders and all believers are accountable to God. They are to manage God’s household by proclaiming and explaining the Word of God. Along with that, all are required to be faithful.

Verse two talks about the one task that a under rower for Jesus has: be faithful. The word means someone who is trustworthy with important things, and faithful to do them. 

The text then deals with who will be the one doing the judging of one’s faithfulness. Will it be the Corinthians; will it be Paul; will it be Christ alone?

God doesn’t require eloquence, intelligence, money, fame, or skill, but simply faithfulness.

Paul didn’t have to stand before the Corinthians, or the apostles in Jerusalem, or his mama, or anyone, but Christ.

The question would be: have you and I consistently, faithfully, managed the things entrusted to us? Paul’s main point is that he is free from their condemnation or exaltation. He has an audience of One, Jesus.

This means that stewards are not responsible to please the other members of the household. They may not always do what others want. That does not matter. What does matter for the steward is that the Master is pleased. That is all that counts.

As a steward of the gospel, that’s all of us, we recognize that we must be absolutely faithful to what God has revealed. 

I may not know or understand God’s thoughts, but I do know His words. So, it is my duty to speak His words plainly and not be anxious whether you like what you hear or not. And it is my duty to speak God’s words, not my own views.

The leader nor any believer standing for their faith is not to be anxious about human judgment.

The church in Corinth had been passing judgment on Paul. They were really investigating him, bringing him before the jury, so to speak. 

Of course, they were their own jury, and it seems that in their desire to prove themselves superior, many of them judged Paul to be inferior and an inadequate leader.

The story is told of a man and his grandson traveling down the road, walking and leading a donkey. They met a man who said, “How foolish for you to be walking. One of you should be riding the donkey.” So, the man put his grandson on the donkey.

The next traveler they met frowned and said, “How dreadful for a strong boy to be riding while an old man walks.” So, the boy climbed off the donkey and the grandfather climbed on.

The next person they met said, “I can’t believe a grown man would ride and make a little boy walk.” So, the man pulled the boy up and they rode the donkey together.

That is, until they met another man who said, “I never saw anything so cruel in all my life – two human beings riding on one poor defenseless donkey!”

Down the road a way, they met a couple of men. After they passed, one of the men turned to the other and said, “Did you ever see two fools like that – carrying a donkey?”

The fact we can’t please everyone we meet is a hard lesson.

At the same time, the Corinthians had placed themselves in a dangerous position. Though Paul was a servant, he was also a steward, and thus, they were under his leadership and management. So, Paul knew that he could not fret over human judgment.

Paul feels so strongly about this that he says he cannot even trust his own judgment about himself. He realizes that there is a fine line between a clear conscience and a self-righteous attitude.

When we examine ourselves (and we are to do this, by the way), we must do it soberly and recognize that we easily underestimate or overestimate our faithfulness. 

Our lone concern is to be what God thinks.

Our focus is to be on the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is Paul’s determination. He is not worried about what the Corinthians think about his ministry.
 

In the same way, we must recognize that it is only God that knows our hearts, our intentions and our motives, and thus, it is only His judgment that counts. 

In His time, God will bring all things to light, and faithfulness to His Word will be judged.

The second characteristic is SENSIBILITY (6-13). 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who rmaketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and eare naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

One of the things I really appreciate about Paul is that he is so sensible. Over and over again, he demonstrates to us that he sees the big picture. And by this example, he shows us that… A leader must operate with perspective.

Servant-leaders must have a proper understanding of who they are, what they are to accomplish, and how they are to do it. This means that servant-leaders are to be faithful, not proud. Servant-leaders are to be trustworthy, not arrogant because pride really kills perspective.

You see…Our arrogance is the enemy of reality. When it comes to reality, the Corinthians had clearly lost sight of it. They had put themselves at the center of the universe and made themselves the standard of what was to be Christian practice.

But such presumption made Paul choke. For the practice of their faith failed when it came to unity; the essence of Christianty.

They were measuring according to the wrong standard as their personal preferences and prejudices dominated against the written word and Paul’s teaching. Clearly, they needed to be rid of their pride, for it was destroying the church.

In light of last Sunday’s morning message “What do you have to be proud about?” All that we have is a matter of grace.

Nothing that we possess which is of eternal value is deserved. And consider what we do have…salvation…eternal life…God’s Presence…His Word…spiritual gifts…blessing after blessing.

These things did not come from our own effort. No, their source is God Himself. Therefore, there is no room for boasting. Yet, this is what the Corinthians were doing. 

It is here that Paul teaches us that… We must not get ahead of ourselves.

Paul writes…Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings!

By heaping on this artificial praise about how great and wonderful the Corinthians are, he attacks their own view of themselves. Sarcastically, he declares that they have it all – just like the wealthy and royal.

It is here that Paul brings them back to reality. No, they have not arrived. No, they are not reigning. Instead, their assignment was to follow those who were setting the example of service.

Here Paul shows us that…A leader must understand the true nature of serving the Lord.

These last few verses demonstrate the utter humiliation that we must be ready to endure for the cause of Christ. For the way of the Christian on this earth is not the way of wealth and royalty. It is the way of the cross. It is like master, like servant.

Paul describes it in so many ways through this section. He describes the way of the Christian is like a spectacle. We are like conquered prisoners, last in the victory parade, to be shown off and killed in the arena. 

We are fools in the face of the wise and distinguished. We are weaklings in the face of the strong and powerful. We are the sweepings of the floor, beneath the dignity of the world.

The way of the kings is in our future, but not yet. Now, is the sensible way of humble service. It is following the example of Christ.
 
The principle is that…We need to think righteously about our leaders both past, present and future.

To live the difference the Spirit makes in us means that we must have thoughts that are holy. This means that we need to think righteously about our leaders, that is, in a manner that glorifies the Lord.

So, when you go and sit down to eat “roast pastor, Sunday School teacher, choir director, committee chair” remember there is a good way to do it and a poor way. There is a holy way, and an unrighteous way.

So let us understand that…We need to submit to leaders and one another that demonstrate faithfulness and humility, letting them fulfill their God-given role in the body.

Leadership is…not about popularity…not about charisma…not about a sense of humor…not about numbers…not about being innovative. It is not about a lot of things that we place value on.

It is about faithfulness.

Leadership is…not about confidence…not about talent and skill…not about success…not about winning. It is not about how many followers they have.

It is about humbly serving the Lord.
I trust both you and I hear those words In Jesus’ Name Amen!