Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the
thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men.
For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or
life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are
Christ's; and Christ is God's. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers
of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in
stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 3:18-4:2 KJV
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in
power. 1 Corinthians 4:20 KJV
An
old round goes like this:
Row row row
your boat!
Gently down the stream,
Merrily merrily
merrily
Life is but a dream!
While rowing your boat down life's stream, you may feel like doing it drearily but remember life comes from your dream! So row diligently not negligently!
In
1 Corinthians 4:1 the word used for ministers is from the Greek word huperetes which occurs 20 times in the
KJV and is a combination from hupo:
under eretes: rower (Composite Word
Study Dictionary)
Many
pictures and images have been used to illustrate the Christian life of service
but an under rower is a strikingly
unique example.
The
movie ‘Ben Hur’ comes to mind with the picture of rowing slaves. However even
though Ben Hur is only historical fiction, it does paints a graphic picture of the under rower!
1 They were not
in the limelight for self glory
Nobody
noticed them, or admired them, or exalted them or praised them or promoted
them. They were not there expecting accolades They were constantly below the scenes and
occupied in doing one thing only, but that one thing was vital…keep the boat
moving! All they were doing was rowing. Because they were below, they knew not
where they were going. Therefore:
2 They had to
trust the captain’s direction
The
captain knew their destination and understood their purpose. He directed the
ship and they depended on him to direct them safely to their goal. They must
always bear in mind that:
3 They had to
row to the captain’s beat
They
therefore could not afford to be distracted. The beat kept them at the right
pace to maintain the required speed to get them to their destination. They were
required to follow one beat only the beat of their ship’s captain and in
addition:
4 They had to
row in unison
All
oars went forward at the same time and all went backwards at the same time. No
one was allowed to do their own thing. If they were ever to get to their destination they had to work together. It did not matter the background or
upbringing of the person who sat next to you, they were all in it together for a
common purpose towards a common goal and the efforts of all were required if that
huge ship was ever going to even get moving.
In
like manner as the ministers of God we need to recognize that
1. We are not in
this ministry to make a name for ourselves but to exalt His Name!
The
church has fallen prey to the world’s self exalting vice of celebrities. A “Christian
Celebrity” is probably a most tragic oxymoron yet the church continues to beat
itself in efforts to glorify and lift up men (and women) with flash and glitter
but no saving power!
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 KJV
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no
flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory
in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 KJV
In
the Old Testament is found a strange incident:
And David danced before the LORD with all his might;
and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel
brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the
trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's
daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before
the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:14-16 KJV
Then David returned to bless his household. And
Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was
the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the
handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth
himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me
before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the
people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 2
Samuel 6:20-21 KJV
Barbara Bowen explains“At
the head of a great procession there would frequently be seen a half naked
buffoon dancing, going through gesticulations usual on such occasions. It was
all done in honor of the person to whom the procession was made, and was the
office of a slave only. King David and all the house of Israel brought up the
ark of the Lord with shouting and with trumpets; and David danced before the
Lord, he took the place of a slave at the head of the procession to do honor to
Yahweh. Michal, King David’s wife, not understanding her husband’s motive, and
thinking he had lowered himself before the people, reproached him bitterly, and
despised him in her heart."
We
do not pick or choose our vocation in Christ; we accept what He gives us!
2. We are to
place our complete trust in Him in all things
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell
in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37:3-5 KJV
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:11 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for
in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV
We
do not cut and run when the going gets tough we keep on rowing!
3. We are to be
obedient to Him before all else!
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 KJV
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me,
he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and
the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John
14:23-24 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in
burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to
obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also
rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 KJV
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his
word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked. 1 John 2:4-6 KJV
We
do not pick and choose or turn up our noses, we do as He commands!
4. We have to
work together in unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity! Psalms 133:1
KJV
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you
that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness
and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as
thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that
the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest
me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and
thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know
that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John
17:20-23 KJV
We
do not choose who our spiritual family will be, we love His children like Him!
Every
single person that the Spirit draws into our church circle is a potential part
of the team and ministry to which you are called! We need to find out what they
can do and where they fit!
The
fast, get it now, drive thru culture of today has ill equipped our generation
to wait patiently while nurturing and caring for dreams and visions.
Serving
may not seem like the exciting thing you dreamed it to be but constantly
applying yourself to the supposedly "boring" job produces results.
Devotion to the motion results in promotion! Sowing and rowing leads to growing
and going!
When
you put your hand to the plough you are expected to do some responsible work!
No
child of God should have, or settle for a spiritual life that is routine,
monotonous, boring, and unfulfilling because your Father in Heaven is anything
but routine, monotonous, boring, and unfulfilling!
