NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Actions or Attitude 

Evangelist Bob Sanders
August 1, 2007

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I Corinthians 4:2 

Recently while making preparation to do some writing for a daily devotional my heart was drawn to this passage of Scripture. Because I thought I knew exactly how verse 2 read, I already knew what I wanted to say. It was not until I brought verse 2 up on my Bible program that I realized that I had been quoting the verse incorrectly. While my mistake was only one word, that single word made all the difference in the world. 

I Corinthians 4 opens revealing how Paul wished to be perceived or accepted by the believers at Corinth. Paul said, “Let a man so account of us” (vs. 1). The word “account” means to take inventory, to estimate. After taking inventory of his life and work, Paul hoped that the Corinthian church would conclude that he is a minister or steward of God. Paul realized that they must know two things if they are to arrive at this conclusion. They must have a personal knowledge of the servant. They must know Paul in an intimate manner. Secondly, they must have a practical knowledge of stewardship. 

The purpose of verse 2 is to give the believers at Corinth practical knowledge of what stewardship consist of. If they can’t define it, they will have difficulty detecting it in the lives of others. There are three thoughts that I see projected in verse 2. 

The Splendor of Stewardship – “Moreover it is required”

Our first thought when we read this phrase is that of necessity. But the truth goes far deeper than that. While there are certain aspects or attributes that makeup stewardship; that is not the emphasis here! It is true that without these attributes or characteristics, there would be no stewardship. But, the word “required” means that which attracts, to seek to worship, to seek after, to desire. Paul wished the Corinthians to know that true biblical stewardship is far more than just serving God. It is not forced service, but it is faithful service that sets God’s steward apart from all others. The attractive and desired element of stewardship is that the servant be perceived as “faithful.” The word “faithful” means trustworthy, subjectively, trustful. When the believers at Corinth became personally aware of Paul’s life and work, he wanted them to see the splendor of stewardship, a person worthy of exalting and emulating! Why would a person look to someone for leadership and direction if there was not attributes or characteristics that set them apart for all others? It would be worth our time to investigate our service to the Lord and see if there is any splendor on our stewardship. 

The Spirit of Stewardship – “in stewards”

It was in the spirit of stewardship that I had been mistaken. I had always quoted verse 2 with an “of” and not an “in.” If Paul had said “It is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful”, the emphasis of the statement would have be upon outward action. By saying, “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”, the emphasis of the statement is on an inward condition! A man’s actions may not always be indicative of his attitude. A person can do the right thing outwardly and not be the right person inwardly. There is a great difference between habits and heart. Through restraint and pressure individuals can be forced to serve God, thus appearing to be the right kind of steward. In Matthew 6 Jesus spoke of a group of people that gave great sums of money to gain the attraction and attention of men. Jesus then added this rebuke, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 If a man’s heart is right, then his habits will be right. God’s steward does the right thing because he is the right kind of person. If the heart is faithful, the nature fruit of faithful habits will appear! When I read verse 2 correctly, I was forced to ask myself this question, “Do I spend more time disciplining my actions or developing my attitudes?” Paul not only wanted the Corinthian believers to see the splendor of stewardship, but witness the spirit of stewardship. 

The Subject of Stewardship – “stewards”

At this point it is necessary to look at the word “steward.” It means a manager, overseer, an employee, a fiscal agent or treasurer. If there is one obvious point that the definition reveals, it is the absence of ownership! Of all the things that steward works with, holds in deposit, and oversees it usage, the steward holds the title to nothing. He is an overseer and not an owner! Whatever we possess, it is not ours, it has been entrusted to us by God. Having understood this great truth, we are enlightened to the fact that responsibility is not relative to the amount one is entrusted with. In Matthew25 Jesus told the story of a man that had three servants. Previous to making his journey to a far country, he dispersed talents to his servants. He gave five talents to one, two talents to another and one talent to one. The man that was given one talent was expected to be as faithful in stewardship as the man who received five. The reward of the master was not determined by the amount gained, but the attitude of the steward toward that which was given him. The man with two talents received the same praise as the man who received five talents. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21 The man with one talent was not punished because of amount, but attitude toward what he had been given. 

Paul wanted the believers at Corinth to have a practical knowledge of stewardship. If they were going to accept him as a minister and steward of God, they must understand stewardship. He placed before them the splendor, the spirit, and the subject of stewardship. If we were to examine our lives, would others accept us a steward of God. 

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION