Servants and Stewards

1 Corinthians 4:1–21

Servants and Stewards

Blake Payne Updated Staff Photo

Blake Payne

Pelham Campus Pastor

In this passage, Paul challenges the Corinthians’ perspective that they or their preferred spiritual leader are the best judge of the way they are living. Paul establishes that church leaders are only servants of Christ—managers of what he has entrusted to them—and that God is the only true Judge.

Application

  1. How do you define faithfulness in the things you steward for the Lord (e.g., your body, your family, your finances, your testimony)? Is your definition informed by God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and other faithful believers?

  2. In what ways do you allow others or your own conscience to judge the way you live? What would it look like to repent and look to God as your true Judge?

  3. Who is a spiritual authority figure that you can invite to speak into your life and tell you when you don’t see yourself or your sin clearly?

Key Points

  • God calls his people to be servants, as Jesus was. Servants don’t have great status, but their work is important and meaningful.

  • Paul redefines success as faithfulness with the things God has given us to manage.

  • A clear conscience doesn’t justify us, and feeling good isn’t the indication that we are living a godly life or making wise decisions.

  • God’s praise is the only praise we should live for, the only praise that should move us.

  • We can’t claim the benefits of the cross (future glory) without laying hold of the realities of the cross (suffering and sacrifice).

Other Scripture References

1 Corinthians 3:5–9

Proverbs 14:12