SERIES: “OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THAT OBSTRUCT OBEDIENCE”
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5
TITLE: “CONSIDER YOUR SERVICE”
INTRODUCTION: A. Dr. Albert Schweitzer had returned to Europe on furlough form his missionary service
in Africa when he was 80-years-old. One of the reporters who came to interview the
humble doctor just could not understand why such a famous person would leave the
comfort and security of Europe to live on the mission field in Africa. He asked Dr.
Schweitzer for an explanation. Schweitzer replied: “You see, I had to do something
for Christ.”
B. It’s been said: “We are saved to serve, not to be served.”
1. Jesus Himself set us an example as a servant
a. Mk. 10:45 – “For even the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
b. Lk. 22:27b – “I am among you as one who serves.”
2. In our text this evening, Paul asks us to consider (to think about; ponder; reflect on)
our service
C. 1 Cor. 4:1-5 – “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those
entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been
given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any
human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that
does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing
before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is
hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will
receive his praise from God.”
I. WHO WE SERVE
A. Paul says that people should see us “as servants of Christ and those entrusted with the secret things of
God.”
1. It should be evident to all who we serve – Jesus Christ
a. Not self, not others, not our families, not our bosses or our customers, not our country
--but Christ
b. All other service should then flow out of our service to Christ
2. Lk. 26:13 –“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
--Mark Twain and a Mormon were arguing about polygamy 9having more than one wife). The Mormon
said, “Give me just one verse in the Bible that forbids polygamy!” Twain quickly answered, “That’s
easy. ‘No man can serve two masters.’”
3. The term “regard” is actually an accounting term in the original language
--it means to give an account; take inventory;
B. Paul says that as servants of Christ we are “entrusted with the secret things of God.”
1. “secret” – the word in the original language is where we get our word “mystery”
2. In the biblical sense, it means things that were hidden at one time and have now been revealed
a. We understand God more thoroughly through Jesus
--Jesus said, “If you have see me, you have seen the Father…”
b. What was once hidden has now been revealed
3. Paul is saying that because of our service to Christ, others will see Christ in us and will thus see what
God is like
a. When Wycliffe Bible translator Doug Meland and his wife moved into a village of Brazil’s
Fulnio Indians, the Indians referred to him simply as “the white man”. That reference was not
complimentary since other “white men” had exploited them, burned their homes, and robbed them
of their lands.
But after the Melands learned the Fulnio language and began to help the people with medicine
and in other ways, they began calling Doug “the respectable white man.” When the Melands began
adapting to some of the customs of the people that did not compromise their faith, the Fulnio gave
them greater acceptance and spoke of Doug as “the white Indian.”
Then one day, as Doug was washing the dirty, blood-caked foot of an injured Fulnio boy, he
overheard one of the Indians watching what was happening say, “Whoever heard of a white man
washing an Indian’s foot before? Certainly this man is from God” From that day one, whenever
Doug would go into an Indian home, it would be announce, “Here come the man God sent us.”
b. Jesus said that we were to let the world see our good works so that they might glorify our Father in
heaven.
c. He also said, “If you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me.”
II. HOW WE SERVE
A. We must serve faithfully
1. vs. 2 – “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”
2. In several translations, the phrase “those who have been given a trust” is simply translated as
“steward”
--A steward was someone placed in charge of the master’s household or business to run the
operation while the master is gone away.
3. Although a steward has great responsibility, a steward is accountable to the master always and in
everything.
--Paul says that faithfulness is “required” – it’s not an option or a suggestion
B. Several times, Jesus told parables concerning master who had left for a time and placed servants in
Charge
--Listen to what Jesus says about faithful and unfaithful stewardship in Mt. 24:45-51 – “Who then is the
faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give
them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so
when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that
servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to
beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a
day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and
assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
C. During a meeting of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1789, the sky outside turned very
dark and ominous. Some of the representatives kept glancing out the windows and feared the end of the
world was at hand.
They began to ask for an immediate adjournment to the meeting. The Speaker of the House was a
man named Colonel Davenport. He stood up and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it
is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty.
Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”
--Someone: “The world crowns success. God crowns faithfulness.”
III. WHY WE SERVE
A. Paul points out that our reason for serving should be base on one thing – pleasing God
--vss. 3-5 – “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge
myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light
what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive
his praise from God.”
B. Paul says that there are three kinds of judgment that we face:
1. Man’s judgment
a. He says, “I care very little if I am judged by your or by any human court.”
b. Jn. 12:42-43 – “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because
of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the
synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.”
2. Self-judgment
a. “Indeed, I do not judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.”
b. We can’t measure ourselves by the standard of ourselves
3. God’s judgment
-- “it is the Lord who judges me…”
a. Rom. 14:10b, 12 – “For we will all stand before God’s Judgment seat.” “So then, each of us will
give an account of himself to God.”
b. 2 Cor. 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
C. We will face judgment
--How does that future event apply to us in the here and now?
1. Paul stresses that as long as we are faithful in our service to Christ, it doesn’t matter what anyone else
things or says about us as long as God approves
--“Well done, good and faithful servant”
2. Paul also implies that if we are unfaithful to Christ, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about us
(including ourselves) as long as God disapproves of us
--Someone once said to Abraham Lincoln that the Union’s cause in the Civil War was in good shape
as long as God was on their side. Lincoln replied that his concern was not whether God was on his
side but that he was on God’s side.
D. Paul points out why God’s judgment is the only one that counts
1. Human judgments are fallible
--The opinions of others and our own opinions of our motives and actions are susceptible to human
error.
2. God’s judgment is infallible
a. In 1 Sam. 16, God told Samuel to find a replacement for Saul because of his sinfulness.
--God sent Samuel to find this replacement from the family of Jesse of Bethlehem.
b. When Samuel saw Jesse’ son Eliab, he said in 1 Sam. 16:6 – “Surely the LORD’s anointed
stands here before the LORD.”
c. But listen to vs. 7 – “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his
height, for I have rejected him. The LORD down not look at the things man looks at. Man looks
at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart.”
CONCLUSION: A. There was a wealthy man who enjoyed giving his mother unique gifts for Mother’s
Day. Every year he outdid himself until finally he couldn’t think of anything else to give
her. He was visiting a city for business reasons and had time to kill. He went to the
local mall to see what was offered there.
He walked into the pet store in that mall and discovered a beautiful bird in a cage.
Not only was the bird beautiful, it could speak five languages and sing Amazing Grace,
his mother’s favorite hymn. The man knew that this was the gift for his mother.
Although the bird cost $10,000.00, he paid for the it and had the storeowner ship the bird
to his mother’s address.
When he got home from his business trip, he called his mother and asked her, “Mom,
how did you like the bird?” His mom said, “It was delicious!”
--What have you done with what God has given you?
B. I heard a story about a preacher who went to a small town to preach a series of gospel
sermons. His attempt was to evangelize that little town. He preached for two weeks.
During the whole time, only one little girl responded to the invitation at the end of one of
his sermons. She confessed Christ, was baptized, and turned out to be the only convert
during the entire meeting. The preacher judged the meeting a failure, and for years, he
bemoaned the great effort he had made for such little result.
However, he did not have the right view of things. That little girl grew up to be a
strong, faithful Christian woman. She married a Christian man, and together they
produced several sons, all of whom became preachers of the gospel. Those sons
converted thousands of unbelievers to Christ.
1. Now, what do you suppose would have happened to that little girl and her family, had
that gospel preacher not faithfully proclaimed Christ?
2. Do you really think that preacher’s effort was a failure?
a. Sometimes, what looks like a very small, insignificant effort on our part, turns out to
be far greater than we think.
b. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”
B. Some congregations close each worship time by saying, “Worship had ended, the service
has begun”
1. Have you considered your service to Christ?
--Is it what he has required? Are you faithful to Him
2. Are you judging your efforts by your own opinion, the opinions of others, or are you
allowing God to be the final judge of your service?
C. The requirement for God’s approval isn’t success; it’s faithfulness
1. We’re not required to be brilliant—just FAITHFUL.
2. We’re not required to be intelligent—just FAITHFUL.
3. We’re not required to be articulate—just FAITHFUL.
4. We’re not required to be handsome or beautiful—just FAITHFUL.
5. We’re not required to be eloquent—just FAITHFUL.
D. Rev. 2:10b – “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of
life.”
