The Principle of Stewardship 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.

The Principle of The Principle of StewardshipStewardship

1 Corinthians 4:1-51 Corinthians 4:1-5

How We Love to How We Love to Fight!Fight!

Don’t You Miss Football!?Don’t You Miss Football!? In Paul’s Day: In Paul’s Day: RealReal

Gladiators!Gladiators! At Corinth:At Corinth:

Each one of you is saying, "I am of Each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ.“ (1 Cor. 1:12)Cephas," and "I of Christ.“ (1 Cor. 1:12)

The Human Condition!The Human Condition!

Identity as God’s Identity as God’s StewardsStewards

Not Fighting for Human Not Fighting for Human AcclaimAcclaim

Let a man regard us in this Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.mysteries of God. 1 1 Corinthians 4:1 Corinthians 4:1



The The OnlyOnly Issue: Issue: ‘Am I ‘Am I Trustworthy?’Trustworthy?’In this case, moreover, it is In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:2 1 Corinthians 4:2



The The OnlyOnly Issue: Issue: ‘Am I ‘Am I Trustworthy?’Trustworthy?’

I’m Already I’m Already Drowning In Drowning In Wealth!Wealth!

A A Radical Reorientation…Radical Reorientation…

Guard, through the Holy Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been treasure which has been entrusted to entrusted to you.you. 2 Timothy 2 Timothy 1:14 1:14

The Freedom of The Freedom of StewardshipStewardship

What matters most is What matters most is FaithfulnessFaithfulness!!““Hey, I’m not in it for Hey, I’m not in it for MEME!”!”I Can Handle I Can Handle SetbacksSetbacks

In this case, moreover, it is In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:2 1 Corinthians 4:2


What matters most is What matters most is FaithfulnessFaithfulness!!

Rise Above the Court of Rise Above the Court of Human OpinionHuman OpinionYou’re not my boss!You’re not my boss!But to me it is a very small But to me it is a very small thing that I may be thing that I may be examined by you, or by examined by you, or by anyany human court…human court… 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 4:3 4:3



Rising Above the Court of Rising Above the Court of Human Opinion…Human Opinion…

Rising Above My Own Rising Above My Own InsecuritiesInsecurities… … in fact, I do not even in fact, I do not even examine myself.examine myself. 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 4:3 4:3

"The heart is more deceitful than all else "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? ‘I, the LORD, search the understand it? ‘I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind…’”heart, I test the mind…’” Jer. 17:9-10 Jer. 17:9-10

but when they measure themselves but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 10:12 10:12

For I am conscious of nothing For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; acquitted; 1 Corinthians 4:4 1 Corinthians 4:4



Rising Above the Court of Rising Above the Court of Human Opinion…Human Opinion…

Rising Above My Own Rising Above My Own InsecuritiesInsecurities

Living for God’s PraiseLiving for God’s Praise… … but the one who examines but the one who examines me is the Lord. me is the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 4:4 4:4

The Implications of The Implications of StewardshipStewardship

Stop Being a Judge!Stop Being a Judge!

Therefore do not go on passing Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, judgment before the time, but but waitwait until the Lord comes who until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of and disclose the motives of men'smen's hearts… hearts… 1 1 Corinthians 4:5 Corinthians 4:5

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt… Luke 18:9

In that you judge another, you condemn yourself Rom. 2:2


Stop Being a Judge!Stop Being a Judge! Instead, Instead, DiscernDiscern……Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 1 Corinthians 2:12 But he who is spiritual

appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15

For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present… 1 Cor. 5:3

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.“ John 7:24


Stop Being a Judge!Stop Being a Judge! Instead, Instead, DiscernDiscern……

Not by human Not by human appearance…appearance…

But by God’s But by God’s viewpointviewpoint

But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 1 Corinthians 2:15




But by God’s viewpointBut by God’s viewpoint By Spiritual FruitBy Spiritual Fruit

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.You will know them by their fruits… Matthew 7:15-16




But by God’s viewpointBut by God’s viewpoint By Spiritual FruitBy Spiritual Fruit By God’s WordBy God’s Word

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:14


Stop Being a Judge!Stop Being a Judge! Instead, Instead, DiscernDiscern…… Not Unrighteous Not Unrighteous

AccusationAccusation…the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10



AccusationAccusation i.e., Motives-Focusedi.e., Motives-Focused… wait until the Lord comes who will both

bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts… 1 Corinthians 4:5



AccusationAccusation i.e., Motives-Focusedi.e., Motives-Focused or: vague, un-redemptive, or: vague, un-redemptive,

unbiblical, sweeping attack!unbiblical, sweeping attack!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24

When the Dust Settles…When the Dust Settles…

Therefore do not go on passing Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, judgment before the time, but waitbut wait until the Lord comes who will both until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the the darkness and disclose the motives of motives of men'smen's hearts; and then hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him each man's praise will come to him from God. from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 1 Corinthians 4:5

The Principle of Stewardship 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.

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