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1st Corinthians 4
Count the Worth of Every Worker
melody
Count the worth of every worker
By the wealth of whom we serve,
And the value of our service
As of stewards of God's word.
Let our conscience only judge us
When our motives are impure,
'Till we stand before our Savior
Whose appraisal shall endure.
May our steps retrace our Shepherd's,
Who no earthly crown pursued,
But did daily gather graces
By the manna of God's word.
As we serve our great provider,
Seeking none of mammon's boast,
Let the good of every brother
Be esteemed above our own.
Though the world will hate and mock us,
For the Lamb in whom we hide,
Who was pierced and hanged in anguish
By the ones for whom he died.
May we never seek alliance
With the world for praise or gain,
But together overcome it
By the power of His name.
Thank you Father who from heaven
Raises fathers of the earth
As purveyors of Thy word and
As examples for Thy church.
Keep them holy and devoted,
Earthly patterns of thy love,
Let their steps be clear reminders
Of the One we seek above.
Words of peace amid our troubles
Is our mind enfolding calm.
And for soothing of the wounded
Lord, Thy truth applies as balm.
But our vain imaginations
It shall shatter like a rod,
'Til we take our only measure
From the Cornerstone of God.
Words: © 2015 by Stephen Popovich
Music: Nettleton by John Wyeth 1813
1st Corinthians 4
A Tale of Two Workers
Summary:
Many construction sites have a fence around them that block the view of outsiders. God's construction site is also hidden....but the workers can be seen. Some are focused and faithful while some sit on their backside and let others do the work.
Judging God's workers
(1)Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (2)In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. (3)But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by {any} human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. (4)For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who
examines me is the Lord. (5)Therefore
do not go on passing judgment before the time, {but 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; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.
All believers have Jesus as our Master and are tasked with ministering God's word of salvation. He is the master of all men and angels. He commands us to perform the most important job under the sun---the administration of God's word.
Count the worth of every worker
By the wealth of whom we serve
And the value of our service
As of stewards of His word
Let our conscience only judge us
When our motives are impure
'Till we stand before our Savior
Whose appraisal shall endure
(2Cor.4:6-7)
Passing judgment on others at Corinth was presumptuous, erroneous and irrelevant; moreover it deepened divisions within the church. Christians are commanded to judge each other in terms of overt sin (1Cor.5:12-13), doctrine (1Cor.14:9, 1Jn.4:1) and certain matters of life within the church (1Cor.6:1-5). But we are not to evaluate the service of one another because that gets into the business of judging motives.
If our conscience convicts us of sinful motives, it is a good indication that the work we are doing for the Lord will not translate into much rewards at the Bema. On the other hand, if our conscience is clear, it is a good sign...but the true verdict awaits the coming Judgment Seat of Christ.
(6) Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. (7)For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (8)You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, {I} wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
Paul sets forth Apollos and himself as examples of how the Corinthians were to serve each other with humility, unity and self-sacrifice.
May our steps retrace our Shepherd,
Who no earthly crown pursued
But did daily gather graces
By the manna of God's word.
As we serve our great provider,
Seeking none of mammon's boast,
Let the good of every brother
Be esteemed above our own
(Mat.6:33, Phil.2:3-4)
The attitude of the Corinthians reminded Paul of a king---puffed up above all others and well fed with the world's riches. Jesus told his followers to seek satisfaction from every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. God gives his finest blessings to those who are persecuted for his name sake not those who seek the stature and riches that come with befriending the world.
A tale of two workers
(9)For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. (10)We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we
are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. (11)To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;
and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; (13)when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, {even} until now.
The Corinthians had safely taken their seat as spectators along with the angels and the rest of the world to watch a doer of the word. Paul showed a servants heart while the Corinthians lived like kings (2Cor.10:1, 11:9).
Though the world will hate and mock us
For the Lamb in whom we hide,
Who was pierced and hanged in anguish
By the ones for whom he died,
May we never seek alliance
With the world for praise or gain,
But together overcome it
By the power of His name.
(Jn.15:19, 16:33)
Jesus left the glory of heaven to walk among us as a servant, enduring the death of the cross in front of mocking men (Phil.2:7-8). After an obedient and humble walk to Calvary, God exalted Jesus above every name (Phil.2:9-10). We too will be honored one day for our faithful service, but until then the scorn of the world will be heaped on all who pick up their cross to do the work of Jesus. Paul was oppressed while the Corinthians relished in their comfort; they were popular and he was disdained (Matt.10:24).
When we are reviled, the Godly response is to answer a vile word with a good word. But when we are blasphemed (translated above as "slandered"), there is a truth of God that is to be defended. When that happens we should not be silent but rather seek to bridge the truth over to the one who is blaspheming.
A father's footsteps
(14) I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. (15)For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet {you would} not {have} many fathers, for in Christ
Jesus I became your father through the gospel. (16) Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. (17)For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
Paul considered himself as a father of the Corinthians because it was Paul through whom they became believers. Jesus used Paul to impart the seed of the gospel into their hearts where it blossomed into salvation---from Paul’s heart to theirs. Paul wanted the Corinthians to be aware that he loved them like a father in the hopes it would give them added incentive to heed his words
Paul's comparison between himself and the typical Corinthian is his way of admonishing the Corinthians for their cozy relationship with the world. He loved them like a father and wanted the best for his children. This letter also holds admonishment for us as we compare Paul's relationship with the world with our own.
Thank you Father who from heaven
Raises fathers of the earth
As purveyors of Thy word and
As examples for Thy church
Paul was very sure footed in his walk of faith. We see him throughout his letters exhorting believers to follow him because he is following Christ (Phil.3:17, 1 Thes.1:6, 2Thes.3:9).
Keep them holy and devoted,
Earthly patterns of thy love,
Let their steps be clear reminders
Of the One we seek above.
(Phil.3:17-18)
Both Timothy and the Corinthians were Paul’s children in the Lord. Every parent with two children knows how different they can be. Often like night and day. No doubt Paul was amazed at the difference between his “child” Timothy and his children at Corinth. Paul sent Timothy to Corinth in hopes that he would remind the Corinthians how it was they were to walk as believers.
The sword cometh
(18)Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. (19)But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the
words of those who are arrogant but their power. (20)For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. (21)What do you
desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
The word of God can be like a sword (Rev.1:16). Paul's preferred use of the word is to build up and nurture the saints, but it can also be used to tear down. The word builds up when we use it to teach and exhort, but it is tears down when it rebukes and admonishes.
Words of peace amid our troubles
Is our mind enfolding calm.
And for soothing of the wounded
Lord, Thy truth applies as balm.
But our vain imaginations
It shall shatter like a rod,
'Til we take our only measure
From the Cornerstone of God.
(Phil.4:9, Ps.107:19-20, Tit.1:13, Eph.4:13)
In the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul has given his readers plenty of motivation to straighten up: 1) the example of Paul and Apollos, 2) the warning of the fires of the Judgment Seat of Christ , 3) Paul’s fatherly love for them and 4) Timothy’s example. If all that wasn’t motivation enough, Paul intended to come with a sword unsheathed---a sharp tongue bent on bursting bubbles---for it was the sword of the Lord wielded by a most faithful soldier.
email comments to steve@biblepopcorn.com