Thoughts for the Day

Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The church in Corinth has split into different factions that support different leaders, and Paul has argued that the only foundation is Jesus Christ. Now he looks at the leaders (at himself, at Apollos, and at Cephas) arguing that they are 'servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries'. Dr Barclay, the Scottish theologian, points out that the Greek word for 'servant' meant a slave who rowed on one of the great trireme galleys that sailed the seas, and that a 'steward' meant a slave who oversaw all his masters household and lands. So such men had to be hard-working and entirely trustworthy. They worked solely for their masters and would be judged by them.

We may get judged by the world, and their judgement may be accurate. We may also judge ourselves, the judgement of which may be over-generous or over-harsh, but ultimately what matters is God's judgement, and we don't know when that will occur. But we need to remember that God knows us inside and out, and that He loves His children.

We must also notice the phrase "purposes of the heart". It rather packs a punch. Do we do things for selfish desires, or to really help others? I had a terrible night before my licensing as a full-time Deaconess trying to decide whether I wanted to go forward for the right reasons or the wrong reasons, not least because I had two sons aged two and six. I couldn't decide which was right, and just had to hand it over to God for a decision. Like all of us we have to live in the hope we have made the right choices for the right reasons.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught Your apostle Paul
that You were the foundation stone
upon which all his work of
building the Church would rest.
and that like all good stewards
he realised that his work would be judged
by his master at some point.
We too wish to base our lives on You,
and ask Your help to be good stewards
of our time, our talents, and our resources.
Amen.