1 Corinthians 4:1

DISCOURSE: 1951
MINISTERS, THE LORD’S STEWARDS

1 Corinthians 4:1. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God, Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

THE apostolic Churches were not so blameless as we are apt to imagine. Many evils obtained among them; and not in a few insulated individuals only, but in the great mass of the people. The Church at Corinth was peculiarly faulty: many and great evils obtained among them: dissension and division in particular, were fomented among them: and the very diversity of gifts which were exercised among them, instead of being an occasion of more exalted piety, was made a source of discord. The people had their favourite preachers, under whom they ranged themselves as partisans and followers; one being of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas; and another of Christ, as having heard and enjoyed his personal ministrations. To allay this spirit, St. Paul teaches them what account to make of all their teachers, and what to look for at their hands: not flattery, as heads of parties; but fidelity, as stewards of their great Lord and Master.
Let us here see,

I. In what light people are to view their ministers—

Ministers come not in their own name, but as ordained of God for the benefit of the Church. They are to be viewed,

1. As ministers of Christ—

[They are sent by Christ. They come not of themselves, but as commissioned by him. It is his message which they bring; his will that they perform. By them it is that he speaks to men, As earthly kings are represented by their ambassadors, and speak by them in foreign courts, so the Lord Jesus Christ himself speaks by his ministers: they stand in his stead: they speak in his name: their word is not their own, but his; and must be received, “not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God.”]

2. As stewards of the mysteries of God—

[They are not merely servants or ministers, but servants of a peculiar class. The whole Church is one great family; and they are appointed as “stewards,” to “give to every one his portion in due season.” To them “the mysteries of God” are more especially committed, that they may dispense them to all, according to their respective necessities; giving “milk to babes, and strong meat to those who are of full age.” The whole of God’s revelation is full of mysteries, which, in due season, they are to unfold: but that which they are chiefly to make known, is the stupendous mystery of redemption. They are to shew, as occasion may require, the need there was of redemption; the means by which it is wrought, even by the incarnation and death of God’s only dear Son; and the way in which it is applied to men, by the mighty operation of the Spirit of God upon the soul — — — It is not necessary that they should be always insisting on one particular topic: the subject comprehends an immense range; and every part of it must be brought forward in its turn: but the one great mystery must be always kept in view; and the dispensing of it must ever be considered as the appropriate office of the ministers of Christ — — —]
This being their true character and designation, it will easily appear,

II.

In what way ministers are to conduct themselves towards their people—

A steward in an household must be faithful to his charge: and so must a minister be in the Church of God: he must be faithful,

1. To his Master—

[He is to receive instructions daily from his Master, and to carry them into effect to the utmost of his power. He must never be doing his own will, or following his own way: he must “in no respect seek his own things, but invariably the things of Jesus Christ.” He must so act, as if the eye of his Master were immediately upon him; and so that he may be able to give a good account of his stewardship, whensoever he shall be called into his Master’s presence — — — He must never be swayed by any thing but his Master’s will: there must be no vacillation in his conduct, as arising from carnal hopes or fears; nor any negligence, as arising from sloth. What his Master has appointed, he must do: and “whatever his hand findeth to do, he must do it with all his might.”]

2. To his fellow-servants—

[He must make a due inquiry into their state and circumstances, in order that he may know what to apportion to each, in a way either of work or sustenance. Having his eye on all, he must deal out to them severally that measure of approbation or displeasure, which may be a sure criterion and earnest of the award which will be assigned them at the coming of their Lord. He is never to aim at “pleasing them, except for their good to edification:” I say, he must speak and act, at all times, “not as pleasing men, but God, that trieth the hearts.” He must indeed “speak the truth in love;” but the truth he must speak at all times, “commending himself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” He must “never prophesy smooth things;” but “reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine;” “doing nothing by partiality, and never preferring one before another.” The express command of God to him is, “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat [Note: Jeremiah 23:28.]?” The word which he is entrusted to dispense must be in his mouth “as a fire, and as a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces [Note: Jeremiah 23:29.].” He must consider his own soul as at stake: and must so “declare the whole counsel of God, as to be pure from the blood of all men,” and, at all events, to “deliver his own soul;” that, if any have perished under his ministry, he may himself at least be approved of his God.]

Address—
1.

Be thankful for the privileges which you enjoy—

[You have, I hope I may say, a faithful ministry. But you need to be cautioned against the error which obtained in the Corinthian Church. You know, that wherever there are more ministers than one, there is apt to arise an undue partiality for one above another: and this sometimes verges on an idolatrous attachment on the one part, and a contemptuous indifference on the other. But the Apostle tells us, that this is a very reprehensible carnality. For, granting that you find one more profitable to your soul than another, “what is any man, but a minister by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” Look through men to God. All of them are “earthen vessels, and the treasure they dispense is God’s:” if you look to man, God will withhold his blessing from you: but if you look simply to him, he will, by one as well as by another of his faithful servants, comfort and enrich your souls.]

2. Be faithful, on your part, in making a due improvement of them—

[If faithfulness be required on our part, so is it also on yours. You must come to the ordinances with a real disposition and desire to “hear what the Lord God will say concerning you.” You must have your minds open to conviction, and “receive with meekness every word you hear, that it may be an engrafted word, effectual to save your souls.” You must not be offended with the faithfulness of your minister; but consider Almighty God himself as speaking to you by him. Then may you expect from God those blessings which your souls need, and a happy meeting with your ministers in the realms of bliss.]