Stewards of the Gospel
In 1 Corinthians 4:1–5, Paul describes himself and other church leaders as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. This idea of stewardship is key to understanding our role as believers.
A steward in Paul’s time was a household manager—someone entrusted with the resources of their master. In the same way, we have been entrusted with the gospel. It is not something we own or can change to suit ourselves. It is God’s truth, and we are called to faithfully share it.
Paul emphasises that what matters most is not human opinion but God’s judgment. People will always have opinions about us—some will praise, others will criticise. But ultimately, it is God who examines our hearts. This should give us both humility and confidence. We don’t serve to gain approval from others but to be faithful to the calling we have received.
Paul warns against judging before the appointed time, reminding us that the Lord will bring to light what is hidden. This encourages us to live with integrity, knowing that God sees everything, even the motives behind our actions.
Our task is simple: remain faithful stewards of what God has given us. We don’t need to seek recognition or fear criticism. Instead, we must be trustworthy in handling the gospel, knowing that God Himself will one day reward our faithfulness.