Do Not or You Will

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For 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 judgment 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 his commendation from God.”

Often one must read the chapter or verses that come before the new chapter and that is true with the first sentence of chapter four.  Paul is making clear that God’s thoughts and ways are loftier than ours and that no one should boast in men, that includes leaders and preachers.  When you were called into Christ you were called into the ministry, you may wear the title of doctor, lawyer, bricklayer, housewife, teacher, coach, trash collector, or salesperson, but you were called into full-time service for our LORD.  You are a full-time servant of Christ, and full time means 24/7.  And in that role as a steward, you and I should be found trustworthy.

I’m not sure we have a full understanding of that term in our culture; Trustworthy describes a person who is dependable, reliable, responsible, truthful, honest, constant, and faithful, does that sound like you?  If not, today is a good day to begin being that trustworthy person. 

I enjoy quotes and these are three that are on the spot for this culture, “Trust is like an Eraser it gets smaller and smaller, after every mistake.  (Author unknown)   “Trust is a fragile thing.  Easy to break and easy to lose and one of the hardest things to ever get back.”  (Author Unknown)   “You are free to make choices.  You are not free to escape the consequences.”  (Howard G. Hendricks)

Paul goes on to state, I’m not aware of any wrong doing in my life that someone could judge me for.  But that does not stop someone from judging, but he goes on to say I’m not going to give that much thought.  Yet he is very clear not knowing does make one innocent, for it is the LORD who judges all men, and has set a date before time, before the world was formed to do just that.

This is why verse five should make each of us give thought before we sit in judgment of anyone.  Verse five; “Therefore do not pronounce judgment 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 his commendation from God.”

Let me close with this thought, we are very limited when we judge, we do not have the ability to see into the heart, if we were to judge Paul for his action before Christ entered into him, he is guilty of killing the follower of Christ, and our judgment would be to reject God’s apostle.  In that our Lord refers to us as sheep, we would be wise to look and wait for He who sees the heart to be the Judge.

From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice