Wednesday, 13 May 2020 1 Corinthians 4:1-13
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God... it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. -1 Corinthians 4:1-2
In our meditation today the word of God explains the true nature of a minister of God. To have a correct perspective regarding any area of our life is paramount. The Bible is the only source in this world, where we get the correct and balanced perspective of any given truth. Here Apostle Paul draws the clear line to demarcate the true minister of God.
He is a servant: He is a servant and not a master. What a humbling word from such a great Apostle, who has been to the third heaven and mightily used by God. Servanthood practised in Christianity is unique, which has no parallel in the world. A servant of God fulfills his calling out of love towards his Master and his brethren and not out of any other motive or compulsion. So in all its areas of service, servanthood is marked with love and devotion to God. True servanthood was shown, by Jesus Himself. Mark 10:45: " For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." He astonished his chosen apostles in John 13- when he washed their feet and asked them to follow suit. This example lays the foundation for Christian servanthood.
He is the steward of the mysteries of God: Steward means one who manages the things/affairs of his Master. Here the mysteries of God are entrusted into the hands of the minister and he is expected to disperse it as and when needed. It is not to be kept as a secret, but to be dispersed to the needy. The God of the Bible loves to reveal Himself. These mysteries are with His servants, who have to dispense the same faithfully. The mystery committed to the minister is nothing but the true Gospel itself. 1 Timothy 1:11: "...according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust."
He should be faithful to the Lord: Faithful to his calling and election! The servant of the Lord is also to be faithful to the One he serves as a minister with a clear understanding that he is entrusted with a very great responsibility. Jesus talks to Peter regarding the keys of the Kingdom of God. As we see in Matthew 16:19: "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Keys speak of power and authority—hence a minister having divine authority is to be a faithful steward of it.
So a minister of the Gospel holds these qualities which God revealed divinely to Paul. Understanding this clearly, let each of us who are entrusted with this great responsibility do it to the best of our knowledge and ability. Let us ask for His grace to flow through us to do this divine task.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we thank You for choosing us and seeing us faithful to be entrusted with the gospel. Give us the grace to give it out to this dying world. In Jesus name. Amen.