1 Corinthians 4:1-5: a reflection

1So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self. 4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Paul describes himself and his fellow workers in a way that reorders how we think about our lives before God: Let a person regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. A steward is one entrusted with what belongs to another, and answerable for how he handles it; and the one thing required of a steward is faithfulness. Paul then adds that he is not much concerned with human judgment, or even his own; it is the Lord who judges him, and the Lord who will bring everything to light in the end.

Notice the two truths Paul holds together. First, we are stewards, entrusted with what God has given, and what is required of us is faithfulness, not spectacular success, but faithfulness with what we have been given. And second, the verdict on our lives belongs to God, not to human judgment or even our own assessment. Paul will not be undone by the judgments of others, nor lean on his own self-assessment; he leaves the verdict to the Lord, who will bring the hidden things to light and give each one his due commendation from God.

Both truths steady us. We are called simply to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us, our time, gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities, not to achieve greatness, but to be found faithful. And we can be freed from the tyranny of human judgment, and of our own harsh or flattering self-assessment, knowing that it is the Lord who judges, and that he will bring everything to light and give the true verdict in the end. Aim to be found faithful with what God has entrusted to you, and leave the verdict on your life to God, who judges rightly. Do not live for human approval, nor be undone by human criticism; be a faithful steward, and let your commendation come from God.

Lord, Paul teaches that we are stewards of what you have entrusted, and that what is required of a steward is to be found faithful; and that the verdict on our lives belongs to you, not to human judgment or even our own. Steady me with both truths. Help me see that I am a steward, entrusted with what you have given, my time, gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities, and that what you require is faithfulness, not spectacular success, but faithfulness with what I have been given. And free me from the tyranny of human judgment, and of my own harsh or flattering self-assessment, knowing that it is you who judge, and that you will bring everything to light and give the true verdict in the end. Help me aim to be found faithful with what you have entrusted to me, and leave the verdict on my life to you, who judge rightly. Keep me from living for human approval or being undone by human criticism; make me a faithful steward, and let my commendation come from you.