What is your definition of a servant of Jesus Christ? Here in this section of chapter four, we are given two pictures of the work of all believers as servants of Christ. These words were written concerning Paul and Apollos, but they apply to us as well. In stating our position in Jesus Christ, Paul uses two words which are very interesting. The first word is 'servants' or 'ministers'. It is a word used to describe those who pulled the huge oars in the old time ships. Those men had to work strictly under the command of their leader. Christ used the word in John 18:36 when he was standing before Pilate. He said, 'My kingdom is not of this world or my servants would fight for me'. The Saviour considered his servants as those who immediately obey him, ask no questions and recognise his authority. To know what he wants us to do we must be in touch with him. We must seek to know and to do his will, if we are to be the kind of servants he wants us to be. The second word used by Paul is 'stewards'. The steward of Paul's day was head of the housekeeping. He was in charge of the whole administration of the house and estate. oseph was a good steward in Potiphar's home. Eliezer was a good steward in Abraham's household. Theirs was not the final responsibility of providing all that was needed, but rather of distributing what the master provided. In the same way, Christ has made the provision and has given us the task of distribution-of seeing that what he has provided is shared with those who need it. What do we have to distribute? Paul says the mysteries of God or the Gospel. What does this mean? A mystery in this verse means a secret which God himself has revealed. It is something we could not discover, but which God has shown to us. It is the great truth that God wants everyone to share in the gospel message and to benefit from the death of his Son, Jesus Christ. QUESTION: What is required of a steward? That he be faithful to his work (v.2). |
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