Faithfulness Is Vital
Focus: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
- KJV
1. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 9:15-18
The ministers of Christ are His representatives on earth to carry through the ministry He started in reaching the lost for God with a view to reconciling them unto their God. Many do assume they know God without really knowing His person. Knowing God is by itself a mystery in that God has no flesh or blood; He is Spirit even though He took the flesh of man in Jesus Christ to be the Son of man so as to take away the sins of the world. Now, ministers of Christ are primarily stewards of His in expounding the mysteries about God unto those who are not knowledgeable about Him. It is somewhat discordant to say someone is a minister of Christ and find the same in acts that do not depict Christlikeness. Therefore, we are enjoined as ministers of Christ to ensure the account that people will give of us depicts Christlikeness and not otherwise. Apostle Paul gave us an example of himself to show that it is not rewarding to use the ministry for personal aggrandizement in that the opinion of men about him should be glorious and not otherwise as death was better in that stead. When Paul and Silas prayed in prison, for instance, the earthquake happened and they were freed but refused to leave because if they left, the jailor was likely to be put to death for letting them escape which was why the poor chap was going to kill himself, until Paul told him not to and that they were still there. Some other people would have just escaped. But staying back caused the man to surrender to their Christ not minding whatever the State would do to him anymore. Assume they had escaped and the rulers had given the jailor charge to go bring them dead or alive: could they have had the opportunity to win that soul if he stumbled on them later? Using the Gospel in a manner that becomes an abuse of power is not in any way representative of Christ. Such that as ministers of the Gospel, we are to dispel the truth of the Gospel without making people cast aspersions on it because of our misdeeds or doing things that God does not approve. It is of necessity that we preach the Gospel for eternal rewards. But of what benefit is the Gospel we preach when people look at us and see clearly that we do not live by the same Gospel?
Friend, let us come soberly before God to check ourselves as ministers of Christ. Please don’t assume you are not one because someone has not poured oil on you. Christ poured oil on none to appoint them. Even when the Holy Spirit asked for Barnabas and Saul, only hands were laid on them before they were released. So, when Christ said we should go into all the world and preach the Gospel, it does not leave you out as long as you are a follower of Christ. Whatever you do as a person dovetails into what the people see concerning you in relation to Christ. If your actions are not in tune with the Gospel, how do you expect others to want to embrace the Christ you claim to represent? Would they not likely view you and the entire group you represent as deceivers? Think about it.
SOLUTION: Please put forth the character of Christ in your daily living that the world may accept your Christ. Whatever Christ does not approve, please refrain from.
Father, we do love you and we know you love us much more. We look up to you for the grace not to mislead anyone away from you by our actions from time to time. Please grant us such grace in Jesus’ name. If there had been anyone who had observed any negativity in us, please turn the heart of the same unto yourself that they may not miss the Kingdom because of us in Jesus’ name. And as you do so, please forgive and be merciful unto us for the past misdeeds in Jesus’ name. In the end, grant us pleasant rewards for our stewardship in you in Jesus’ name.
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