FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP

"It means very little to me that you or any human court should cross-examine me. I don't even ask myself questions. I have a clear conscience..."! (1 Cor 4:3-4, GW).
"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor 4:2, NKJV)

Apostle Paul reveals to us in this passage what his attitude is regarding the matter of him being judged by others or indeed judging his own self. But prior to this, Paul first revealed a fundamental spiritual principle that should guide all who follow Christ, namely: we are God's stewards and it is required of stewards that they be found faithful or trustworthy (1 Cor 4:2). It is this that informs his non-judgemental attitude, as should be the case with every believer too.

The teaching of our scripture passage leads us to the conclusion that people’s assessment of you or your own subjective evaluation of yourself does not influence God's opinion. Seek to impress God and not people or yourself. The real question is: Can God count you as one of His faithful, trustworthy and reliable servants; one who takes care to follow the Master’s teaching and directives and to do all that He appointed you to do? Do you live with a clear conscience that you are faithfully doing all that you know to do according to the revelation of God's word?

Do not get hung up on people's judgement of you because the only opinion that really matters is God's. If God does not rate your work highly, you may well have laboured in vain regardless of how highly you rate yourself. What is acceptable to God is clearly revealed by the word of God and judged by God alone. And we know that we live and serve God acceptably because we seek His will and His glory in all things.

We are all managers of God's resources in one form or another. Faithfulness in doing that which pleases God is the mark of the steward whom God will judge faithful. Nothing else is as important as rendering an acceptable service to God & later to hear His say to you, “well done, good and faithful servant”!

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