Explore the depths of 1 Corinthians chapter 4 with us as we consider the indispensable qualities of being trustworthy stewards of God’s gifts. Through the insights of Alan J. Huth and the scriptural reading by Dr. Michael Elliott, this episode admonishes spiritual arrogance and enunciates the power of godly example in our lives.
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Allen J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today we are in 1 Corinthians chapter 4. We’ll listen to our guest reader, Dr. Michael Elliott, pastor of Regency Christian Center in Parker, Colorado, and founder of Touching Africa Ministries, as he reads the 21 verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 4.
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1 Corinthians chapter 4. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me, it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself, for I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, do not pronounce judgment before the time before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all that you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. And with that, you did reign so that we might share the rule with you. For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we are disrepute. To the present hour, we hunger and thirst. We are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor working with our own hands.” When reviled, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. When slandered, we entreat. We have become and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach them everywhere in every church.” Some are arrogant as though I were not coming to you, but I will come to you soon if the Lord wills. And I will find out not the talk of those arrogant people, but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk, but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
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Going back to my personal Bible reading journals in this podcast, in 1994, after reading this chapter, I wrote, Jesus examines each one of us, and I referred to verse 4. Let’s step aside from that journal entry for a moment, and let’s read verse 4. It says, So, going back to the journal, I did say Jesus examines each one of us based on that verse. Arrogance has no place in the body of Christ. And then I wrote, Paul wrote, In 2004, I was reading, again, chronologically, so I was reading more than one chapter a day, and at that day I read 1 Corinthians 1 through 4, and I did not have an entry on this chapter in my journal. In 2015, I read 1 Corinthians 4 and 5, and I spent most of my journal on chapter 4. So let me read. It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. What a weighty responsibility. God has given me stewardship over my home, my family, the Ezra Project, and as international treasurer of the Gideons International. May I be found trustworthy. We must be good stewards because it is the Lord who judges me, according to verse 4. He discloses the purpose of the heart, according to verse 5. In my role of stewardship, I cannot go beyond what is written in Scripture. That’s verse 6. I need to realize that whatever gifting I have, whatever talents and abilities I think I have, I have nothing. I have not received from the Lord, according to verse 7. And how should I respond to adversity? When reviled, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. When slandered, we entreat, according to verses 12 through 13. Lord, help me do that. I don’t think I can really say be imitators of me, like Paul says in verse 16, but Christians need to live in such a way that people see and want to be one. So let’s dwell on a few points made in my journal in 2015. The first point was in verse 2. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. I mentioned in my journal that I believe God has given me stewardship over my family, my home, the Ezra Project, and as a volunteer in the Gideons International serving on the executive committee. What has God given you stewardship over? And whatever your list is, he has asked us to be trustworthy. In fact, he goes beyond asking us, he demands it. This verse says it is required of stewards that they may be found trustworthy. And a little bit later, Paul reminds us that the Lord judges us. So whatever he’s given us stewardship over, and he wants us to be trustworthy, he judges us accordingly. Verse 5 also reminds me that the Lord discloses the purpose of my heart. Again, I relate that to being trustworthy in whatever stewardship God has given me. He knows my heart. He knows your heart. Are you trustworthy over the things God has given you stewardship over? Then Paul reminds us, what do you have that you did not receive? So again, relating this to stewardship, whatever God has placed you a steward over, he has given it to you. You received it from him. So Paul goes on and asks us a question. If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Going back to my journal entry, remember I wrote, I think that’s worth pondering today, isn’t it? Whatever gifting you have, whatever talents you have, whatever God has given you stewardship over, You received from him. Give him the praise, the glory and the honor for whatever gifting you have and whatever responsibility you have over something or someone else. And then did you catch the sarcasm from Paul here? Let’s read a couple of these verses. I think this is amazing that Paul is so sarcastic as he writes to these Corinthians when he says, Already you have all you want? Already you have become rich. Without us you have become kings. And would that you did reign so that we might share the rule with you. For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all. like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we are in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor working with our own hands.” When reviled, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. When slandered, we entreat. We have become and still are, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I think Paul is lighting up the Corinthians there, don’t you? He’s pretty much saying, you really think you’re something, and I’m just nothing. And then Paul reminds him, for though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ through the gospel. What he’s saying, remember, is he’s the one that founded the church. He’s the one that brought Christianity to the Corinthians. And now they seem to be following the tune of a different drummer. That’s why he says that phrase, be imitators of me. In other words, go back to the real gospel. Forget all this false teaching that you’ve learned. He says as much when he says in verse 17, I think what Paul is saying here is don’t get so uppity, Corinthians. Don’t get so arrogant, acting like you know more than I know. I have been doing this a long time and you are new at this. So come back to my teachings. Imitate me. Come back to where we started. In summary, I think the lesson is clear. It’s clear to the Corinthians and it’s clear to us. Whatever we have, we have received from the Lord and he will hold us accountable. So let’s not get spiritually arrogant. Let’s not get spiritually uppity. Let’s remember, it’s the Lord who judges me, and He will disclose the purpose of my heart. Father, help us to guard against spiritual arrogance. You remind us in this chapter that whatever we have, we have received from you. We thank you for the gifts, talents, and abilities that you have bestowed upon us. And we are reminded in this chapter that you hold us accountable. You want to find us trustworthy. May it be so in each one of us. And Lord, where we need to repent, we repent today. We say we’re sorry for taking for granted the giftings that you have given us. And we ask you to forgive us if you have not found us trustworthy in the stewardship you have given us. Scripture helps us course correct. We pray that all of us can get back on track so that you can find us trustworthy servants of yours. Find us faithful, Lord. Amen. All of the Ad Bible radio programs are available to you in writing. We transcribed all of Ad Bible into an 11-book series called Day by Day Through the Bible, and we did it in a unique way by authors of the Bible. You can get the complete set or a book at a time at our website, EzraProject.net. For example, there are the writings of Moses, the writings of Solomon, the writings of the minor prophets, and the writings of the major prophets, the writings of the Old Testament historical books, and the writings of Old Testament leaders. Covering the New Testament, we have the writings of Matthew and Luke, the writings of John, the writings of Paul, and the writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. So this 11-book series covers all 66 books of the Bible, chapter by chapter. So if the radio program was on 1 Samuel, you would find the written version in day by day through the Bible, the writings of Old Testament historical books. If the radio program is covering Daniel or Jonah, you would find all the minor prophets in the writings of the minor prophets. But say you’re studying the gospel of John in your own personal quiet time. You can find our coverage of John’s gospel in the writings of John, which includes not just his gospel, but other writings like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and Revelation. Or you are going to be reading one of Paul’s epistles. You could find them all in the writings of Paul. Our Day by Day through the Bible series is a tremendous resource as you read and study any book of the Bible. It will deepen your understanding of God’s Word and enhance your personal quiet time because each book breaks down the passage with comments from my personal Bible reading journals, offers life applications, and prayers related to the passage. If you want more from your time in God’s Word, visit EzraProject.net and try one of our day-by-day through the Bible devotional books. Any of the 11 books are a great place to start or get the full set to use wherever you are in the Bible today or wherever you are heading in your Bible reading. I know you’re going to enjoy it and want to share it with others.
