1 CORINTHIANS 4

3 Outlines

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

UNDERSTANDING MYSELF

MY IDENTITY – Vs. 1 – I am a Minister of Christ and Steward of the mysteries of God.

MY RESPONSIBILITY – Vs. 2 – I am to be faithful.

MY ACCOUNTABILITY – Vss. 3-4 – I answer to Christ who will reward all His servants.

MY IMPARTIALITY – Vs. 5 – I am to judge nothing before the time.

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1 Corinthians 4:1-5

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

WHO ARE WE? - Vs. 1 - We are Stewards of the mysteries of God.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US? - Vs. 2 - Faithfulness

WHOM SHALL WE JUDGE? - Vss. 3, 5a - Nobody

We are talking about evaluation of our ministry, not the judgment of sin. Christians are called upon to judge sin in others and ourselves (1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 11:28-32, 1 John 1:8-10)

WHO IS OUR JUDGE? - Vss. 4, 5b - The Lord

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1 Corinthians 4:2

MAKING LIFE COUNT

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

"And it's long fly ball to deep left field, and that ball is going...going...going foul! That ball went over 400 feet, but doesn't count."

Some people seem to hit the ball a long way in the game called life. It appears that they have accomplished much in the way of earning money, becoming famous or doing good works. However, if they haven't pleased God in this life, it is like hitting a foul ball. What they did just doesn't count.

In Colorado, where the most tragic public school shooting took place, two young men became famous, but most of us would not think that their lives counted for God. On the other hand, one of their victims was asked if she believed in God. She said, "Yes", and she was killed. We have a tendency to feel that her life did count for God.

We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 4:2 of the most important ingredient in making one's life count.

That ingredient is faithfulness. A steward was a household servant in charge of his master's worldly goods. He was responsible for the success of the household. A good steward was a faithful steward who took good care of what his master owned. As servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1) we are responsible to be faithful if our lives are going to count for Him. Here are some areas in which we need to be faithful.

FAITHFUL IN CONVERSION - John 1:1-7, John 3:16-18 - If a person has not experienced the second birth, he has not been faithful in being converted. His life has not been turned around because of trust in Christ as Savior. Every person whose life counts, comes to Christ for salvation.

FAITHFUL IN COMMITMENT - Romans 12:1, Matthew 22:34-40 - A person who has trusted Christ as Savior is to be committed to Him in every way. To me, the first step of commitment to Christ is believer's baptism (Matthew 28:19-20)

FAITHFUL IN CHOICE - Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 6:14 - A Christian will make many choices in his lifetime. Probably the two most important choices concern career and marriage. In both cases, the Christian needs to be faithful to God in these choices. He or she should do with His life whatever God wants him to do. He or she should only marry a Christian.

FAITHFUL IN CONDUCT - Colossians 3:17 - All that we do should be approved by the Lord Jesus. If we can't do it in His name, we shouldn't do it!

FAITHFUL IN COMMUNICATION - 1 Peter 3:15 - We should be ready to witness for Christ at all times.

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