Stewards of the Mysteries of God
Pastor Don Carpenter
A Beautiful Mess / 1 Corinthians 4:1–5
David Brainerd said this to Jonathan Edwards: “I do not go to heaven to be advanced but to give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I have a high or low seat there, but to live and please and glorify God.… My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and give all to Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory.1
1 Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 252). Baker Books.
Our passage this evening gives us an interesting set of principles to consider. This message is especially for those who have already been born again. You have trusted in Christ’s finished work on the cross. You are now living a life of service to the King. Today we will see that as a servant, or a minister, you are a steward of the things that Christ has given you. You will some day give an account for how you used those things. May God give us wisdom as we consider the implications of our stewardship.
God’s servants are His stewards.
1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
A. Minister = servant
1. A born again Christian
2. A vocational servant
B. Steward = manager entrusted with oversight
C. Mysteries of God = “That which is outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension” – Vine
1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1. Spiritual truth about salvation.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. Spiritual truth about consequences.
Galatians 6:7–9 KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
God’s stewards must be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2–4 KJV
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
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.
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
A. Faithful = trust worthy, reliable
1. With the truth about salvation
2. With the truth about consequences
3. With the truth about society
4. With the opportunities given to influence others.
5. With the freedom we have as American citizens to vote
6. With the free flow of information about political issues.
B. It is a small thing to be judged by men.
1. Peers and friends
2. Society
3. Your own heart
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
C. God will judge our stewardship
1. Don’t be afraid of others.
2. Don’t judge others in their stewardship.
God’s stewards will be thoroughly evaluated.
1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV
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.
A. Don’t try to do God’s job by judging others – your information and perspective is limited.
B. God will shed light on the deeds that are done in secret whether they be good or bad.
C. God will expose private thoughts and motives.
D. Everyone will get the praise that they deserve from God, even if it seems to be lacking now.
1 Corinthians 3:11–15 KJV
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
There’s a story of two paddleboats that left Memphis about the same time, travelling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they travelled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other.
Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.
One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fuelled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.
God has entrusted us with a precious cargo in life called salvation ….. I wonder how many times we sacrifice it just so we can ‘win’ in life?
If you are a born again believer, you are Christ’s servant and, in a sense, you are His minister. You have been entrusted with truth about salvation, truth about consequences, and truth about society. Every action that you take on earth will be evaluated in light of how you used that truth. Did you tell lost people about salvation? Did you tell Christians about consequences that would come as a result of their actions? Did you effect a moral cleansing in your society? Did you vote? Did you vote Biblically? You do not have to answer to your family, your friends, or even your own heart. Some day however, you will answer to God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom as you consider the implications of your stewardship.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:05 PM March 10, 2022.