Psalm 8:1, add Psalm 31:1-4
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures. He laid me down in 2 Corinthians 4. The spirit of my mind met with the Mind of the Spirit right away, at verse 2:
1Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The requirement for stewards is to be “found faithful.”
The word that is translated as faithful is πιστός (pistos). The word can be used to convey two ideas: the passive/objective — trustworthy, and the active/subjective — trusting. It is clear from the context that Paul uses it here in the passive/objective sense: a man who is a steward must be “found” trustworthy. Nevertheless, faithfulness arises from faith. Our trustworthiness before GOD is grounded upon our trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).
We must be “found” faithful. In a court proceeding, the judge or jury examines evidence and renders a “finding”: Guilt or innocence. The word translated as “required” includes the idea of seeking something out. In this case, it indicates someone seeking something expected by inquiry or examination. When our Lord examines us, He makes a judgment, and what He is looking for is faithfulness. That’s the standard by which our service is measured. It is necessary that His stewards are found faithful.
Along the still waters, I reflected on this matter. I thought of the parables Jesus used to emphasize this truth. Jesus taught on this so often that it goes beyond my time or space to cover it all. Here are the obvious examples: The ten virgins and the ten talents (Matthew 25:1-30), The ten pounds (Luke 12:12-27). The Ten Talents and the Ten Pounds parables include testimony to the fact that our trustworthiness is a testimony to our trust, or faith, in God. The servant who hid his talent in the earth, and the servant who hid his pound in a napkin, each despised their Master.
But the parable that provoked the greatest concern and meditation is found in Luke 12:41-48.
I recommend you read the entire chapter, but for this devotional insight, I encourage you to read Luke 12:31-48. In verses 31-40, Jesus exhorts His disciples/servants, first, to live seeking the kingdom of God (Luke 12:31-34), not in service to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). And, second, He exhorts them to live in expectation of His return (Luke 12:35-40). This is important because it provides context for understanding what Jesus is referring to when He answers Peter’s question: “Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?” (Luke 12:41).
Jesus answers that it applies to all who are called to “rule” the House of GOD, to “give them their portion of meat in due season?” (Luke 12:2-43).
Then Jesus describes how He judges His servants’ trustworthiness:
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
I think every servant of GOD, especially those called to feed the flock of God, and take the oversight thereof (1 Peter 5:2; see Acts 20:28), should consider what Jesus says without blunting the force of His words. If any servant of Jesus refuses to “depart from iniquity,” who plunges himself into such perversity as described by our Lord, should reckon himself doomed to be cast aside with the “unbelievers.” It is clear such are wolves, not sheep, and will be exposed in the end as such. Not all who say, “Lord, Lord,” are known by Him (Matthew 7:22). And let all His servants consider their hearts that they do not despair in their service and turn to fleshly means to get what they want from Christ’s sheep for which He died.
Next, Jesus turned His attention to the servants that He will ackowledge, and divides them into two classifications: first, those who knew His will and refused to do it; and second, those who were ignorant of His will and failed to do it (Luke 12:47-48).
Both will receive stripes! The word stripes refers to a blow that leaves a wound. Jesus said these will be beaten, which means to flay or scourge.
That’s right! The knowingly rebellious and the ignorantly rebellious will receive stripes.
The distinction will be in the number of stripes each receives. The knowingly rebellious were given greater knowledge of His will; they will receive “many” stripes. To whom much is given, much is required. Those who failed to “study to show themselves approved” (2 Timothy 2:15), and who were neglected in their training, or neglectful in their studies, will receive “few” stripes. Take heed, you are no longer excused by ignorance and may qualify for the reduced sentence.
In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His cross, I remembered the lashes He endured for me. Grateful that my sins are covered, I was nonetheless struck by the realization that I am accountable for my stewardship and that my trustworthiness will be examined. I wept! I trust I have been faithful to all I know, and will receive all He wants me to know, and so perhaps I’ll get through with the few. Also, He comforted me to know that whatever stripes I might be required to receive, these wounds will be healed by the Stripes He bore for me (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5).
In this comfort, I rose, and as He spoke, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me: (Luke 9:23), I took up my cross.
He led me to His table.
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy attended me as we walked together into His harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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