Faithfulness in Ministry
July 2
Paul could never be called a fly-by-night apostle. We have already seen how on multiple occasions, Paul and the other Apostles spent extended periods of time with new converts. They also frequently returned to established churches in order to spend more time with them.
Here, in 1 Corinthians 4, Paul tells the church that they should see him and the other Apostles as stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1) He follows this statement with a comment that stewards must be found faithful. (v. 2)
By saying that they must be found faithful, Paul implies that the those managing the mysteries of God must be evaluated. They must be tested and pass the test. Paul had nothing to hide. His life was an open book. But he says that the true judge of his faithfulness was not any person or church. Paul’s ultimate judge is God Himself. He was well aware of that fact and lived his live accordingly.
So what are the “mysteries of God” that Paul refers to? Paul also uses the term mysteries elsewhere in 1 Corinthians 13:2; 14:2. He will also go into more detail in his letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians.
While Proverbs 25:2 says that God conceals things, God says that wise leaders are capable of mining those things that He has concealed. Yes, Jesus told parables in order to conceal certain things about the Kingdom of God from some people. But Jesus also revealed the meaning of the parables to His disciples. (Mark 4:33–34)
For one thing, Paul says that the “mysteries of God” have been revealed. (Ephesians 1:9; 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:9, 16; Colossians 1:26)
These mysteries aren’t something that believers are ever encouraged to look for outside of the Bible. There isn’t some secret code that God wants believers to dig out of some obscure Bible text or some extra-biblical text that was hidden by church leaders hundreds of years ago.
God is a self-revealing God. He wants to reveal Himself to His people. And that’s why Paul said that the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:26–27, BSB)
Application
Paul turns to the importance of believers to have relationships with their teachers in 1 Corinthians 4:14–17. He uses familial words such as father and child to describe these relationships. In verse 15, Paul says that they may have many instructors, but they don’t have many fathers.
As important as it is to surround ourselves with good, solid Bible teachers, Paul insists that there needs to be accountability relationships between leaders and followers. This accountability goes both ways. The leader is accountable to the follower by living and teaching with integrity. The follower is accountable to the leader by mastering the subject matter and becoming like the leader in his worldview and behavior.
In God’s church, no one is above being tested. In fact, we are encouraged to test prophecies. (1 Corinthians 14:29) We are encouraged to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). In God’s church we can never say, “Touch not the Lord’s anointed,” yet, how often have we heard that from Christian “leaders” say that regarding other Christian “leaders”.
Discernment is crucial among God’s people. Personal knowledge of leaders and followers provides a checks-and-balances in the Christian life.