Essential Truths for the Minister

What must ministers remember in seeking to be faithful to their calling? Here are some essential truths ministers of the gospel must never forget. We adapted this content from the newest volume in the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary, 1 Corinthians by Daniel Akin and James Merritt.

Four Truths a Minister of God Must Never Forget

A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful. It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

1 Corinthians 4:1–5

Main Idea: Ministers are servants God will hold accountable for their good and bad service when Christ returns.

1. A Minister Is a Servant of God (4:1).
2. A Minister Is a Manager of the Mysteries of God (4:1–2).
3. All Ministers Will Ultimately Be Judged Only by God (4:3–5).
4. A Minister Will Receive His Reward from God (4:5).

A critical spirit and a condemning attitude in the church are like cancer to the human body. If they are allowed to spread, fatality may result. Paul knew this to be true, especially as it relates to ministry. The church at Corinth was still under the seduction of the world’s value systems. The church had lost the proper perspective on just what a minister is, and Paul seeks to correct their wrong way of thinking. As Paul helps us rightly see what ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ are, he also provides valuable instruction on the ever-present danger of judgmentalism. Four truths are presented for our edification.

A Minister Is a Servant of God

The Corinthians had elevated Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter) to celebrity status. Paul finds this scandalous and sets out to quickly correct their error. Paul writes, “A person should think of us in this way” (v. 1). The Message paraphrases it: “Don’t imagine us leaders to be something we aren’t.” Paul Gardner writes, “Paul is not making a suggestion that may help the Corinthians see things in a better light. Rather, this is the way it is in God’s church”. And what are ministers of God? First, they are servants (Gk. hypēretai).

This word originated to describe the slaves who rowed in the lower tier of a trireme (a ship with 3 levels of oarsmen). Eventually, it came to be used of any who were in a subservient position, with emphasis on the relationship of one who served a superior.

Gordon Fee

Ministers are servants, not captains. They are humble servants of their sovereign Master and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Their assignment is clear and singular. Their status is plain and certain. They serve Christ and his churches. They live and serve by one simple dictum: “All that matters in life and ministry is that I please Christ!” What liberty! What responsibility! And what a calling! We are “servants of Christ.”

A Minister Is a Manager of the Mysteries of God

Paul adds a second descriptor to the ministers of God in verse 1: “managers [ESV, “stewards”] of the mysteries of God.” Mark Taylor says the word manager . . .

Denotes one who has authority and responsibility for something such as an administrator or manager of a household. The term denotes a person in a position of trust and who is accountable to others.

Ministers are accountable to Christ alone. Further, our trust is in the gospel and all it entails, which Paul calls “the mysteries of God.” Ministers have a special calling to proclaim the gospel (2:2) and protect the gospel. When the gospel is misrepresented or compromised, added to or subtracted from, the minister of God must sound an immediate warning. That is why Paul adds in 4:2, “In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.” To be faithful in ministry requires walking in the footsteps of Jesus as a servant of God and a servant to others (Mark 10:42-45). It requires a passion for faithfulness and obedience to our heavenly Father that envelopes everything we do. The end result can be powerful.

It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”

Charles Spurgeon

A Minister Will Ultimately Be Judged Only by God

One of the most egregious aspects of judgmentalism is that we put ourselves in the place of God, who is the rightful Judge of us all. Paul develops this principle in light of how the Corinthians carnally evaluated the worth of different leaders in the church. Paul could not care less about any human assessment. Ultimately God will render an accurate and final judgment of each person’s service.

Paul places things in proper perspective when it comes to how others see him and his ministry for Christ and the church. First, “It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you.” Paul knows what they say about him. He knows their opinion of him. He considers it, but it does not consume him. Second, it does not matter to him if he is judged by “any human court.” Their opinion doesn’t matter all that much either. Third, Paul boldly states, “I don’t even judge myself.” He explains what he means in the following verse: “For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges” (v. 4).

Paul seals his argument in verse 5 with a command and a theological observation. He commands, “Don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes.” Paul bases this command on a theological principle: It is the Lord “who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart.” Christians are not to make judgments now because they are the wrong judges and because they judge at the wrong time. The Lord is the only rightful Judge, and his second coming signals the right time.

A Minister Will Receive His Reward from God

Paul concludes this short paragraph with a word of encouragement about future rewards for God’s servants (cf. 3:10-15). He writes, “And then praise [ESV, “commendation”] will come to each one from God.” Schreiner notes, “God’s reward will be just, since he understands the motives of the hearts and knows everything about every person”.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this paragraph of 1 Corinthians is how it ends. With the final day of judgement in view, Paul might have been expected to say, “At that time each will receive his rebuke from God.” But instead, he says, “At that time each will receive his praise from God” (4:5c). How wonderful! The King of the universe, the Sovereign who has endured our endless rebellion and sought us out at the cost of his Son’s death, climaxes our redemption by praising us! He is a wise Father who knows how to encourage even the feeblest efforts of his children.

D.A. Carson

God is omniscient, and God is just. He will do right by his servants. We can rest in that. We can rejoice in it, too.

Conclusion

The New Testament’s teaching about judging can be confusing at first. On the one hand, there are places in the Bible where we are told to make judgments, to evaluate people, their teaching and action. Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 about the man living in an immoral relationship “with his father’s wife” (5:1) makes this clear. On the other hand, Jesus condemns being judgmental in Matthew 7:1-5, only to follow immediately in verse 6 with the command, “Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs.” Thus, the Bible teaches an important distinction between being wrongly judgmental and rightly judging sin. We must find a way to judge graciously and righteously. How can those of us who have been redeemed from all our sins by the precious blood of Christ rightly make judgments without wrongly being judgmental?

1. Check your motives. Why am I doing this? Have I checked my heart, knowing that ultimately only God knows the motives and intentions of the heart (Prov 16:2; 1 Cor 4:3-5)?
2. Examine your walk with the Lord first. Am I walking in the Spirit and characterized by a gentle spirit, careful to monitor my sin even as I seek to restore another (Gal 6:1-2)?
3. Be careful not to make a snap decision or quick judgment. Take the time to get the facts and listen before acting, recognizing you will never know everything (Prov 18:13).
4. Speak the truth, but do it in love (Eph 4:15).
5. Never forget that ultimately everyone must give an account to the Lord, not to you or anyone else (Rom 14:7-12; 1 Cor 4:4-5; 2 Cor 5:10).

Reflect and Discuss

1. Does the label “servant of Christ” apply to career ministers only or all Christians? Is there anything particular about a pastor service?
2. How does the minister’s identity as a servant and manager shape how you view gifted teachers?
3. How would you rank the importance of holiness for a minister on a scale of 1 to 10? And how would you also rank the importance of giftedness? Based on your rankings, how should holiness and giftedness relate to each other? What are some ways you could live and think in ways contrary to the proper order?
4. How would you define “success” for a career minister and a local church?
5. Is there a difference between being a successful minister and a faithful minister? Why or why not?

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