To Be Found Faithful: A Biblical View of Christian Leadership
What if being faithful meant becoming the “scum of the earth”? In this hard-hitting message, Paul flips the Corinthian view of ministry upside down—and it still challenges today’s church.
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The Ministry of Apostles
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 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. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 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.
6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
*Some of this blog comes from the writings of Warren Wiersbe
Three Pictures of Christian Ministry
“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.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
The Bible instructs us to behold the Lord more than 1,200 times. The problem at Corinth was that they were beholding the world rather than the Lord, and that was tripping them up.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, they had forms of entertainment that included Greek philosophers and orators who captivated audiences with their charisma and oratory skills. This mindset permeated the church, and people were discounting the message because it wasn’t entertaining. Just as people had their favorite Greek philosopher or orator, the church was dividing over personalities—some following Apollos, others claiming allegiance to Peter.
This was flowing out of a worldly, fleshy mindset rather than a spirit-centered, Christ-exalting mindset. The Apostle Paul confronts this head-on, using strong, confrontive language motivated by love for the church and love for the glory of Christ.
The Apostle Paul presents three pictures of a Christian minister, describing them as a steward, a spectacle, and a spiritual father. In this blog, we’ll examine the first two. We’ll examine the third picture in a separate blog that’s coming soon.
When the Apostle Paul used the word “minister,” it’s a key word because it literally means a person who is an under-rower—someone who would be down in the galley of a Roman ship rowing. Paul is saying that as ministers, we’re not captains. As ministers, we do the humble work of serving the King of kings, often in a way that’s not seen or appreciated by the world.
Let’s look deeper at the first two pictures: steward and spectacle.
1) We Are Stewards
A steward is one who manages everything for one’s master. They’re serving an audience of one. A steward is faithful to their master—they may not please everybody in the household or other servants, but they focus on pleasing the master.
The main issue the Apostle Paul highlights is not whether he’s cool, well-liked, or entertaining like the touring speakers throughout the Roman Empire. Nor is Paul comparing himself with Apollos in a way that sets up rivalry and division.
The main issue is this: Are Paul, Apollos, and others serving the Corinthian church faithfully to what God has assigned them to do—faithfully teaching the Word of God clearly?
As Paul stewards this responsibility with accountability to an audience of one, he points out three specific areas for the Corinthians to understand:
The Judgment of People
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.” 1 Corinthians 4:3
The church at Corinth highly criticized the Apostle Paul. However, Paul didn’t get upset when people criticized him because he knew he was responsible to God for helping build the church in a God-honoring way. He did not let their opinions mold and shape him. He was governed by the revelation of God’s love and His direction.
Paul wasn’t saying he’s in a state of perfection where no one needed to judge his thoughts or actions. He also wasn’t saying that criticism didn’t hurt him—after all, he was human. But he was saying that he’s not going to live as a people pleaser. He felt things when people were critical, like anybody else, but he didn’t live by what he felt. He knew he was responsible for honoring God properly, and God alone is the judge.
The Servant’s Own Self-Judgment
“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.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-4
From that verse, Paul is saying he’s not aware of anything that would disqualify his life and ministry as he follows and leads people in Christ, but that doesn’t mean he’s not accountable to God and to the people in the body of Christ. We need accountability in the church—that’s healthy.
Paul wasn’t saying accountability doesn’t matter. Instead, he was affirming that his conscience is clear and that the accusations the church was making against him were without merit.
Warren Wiersbe provides an important warning: “When our conscience is clear before the Lord, there can be a fine line between a clear conscience and a self-righteous attitude.” We must guard our own hearts against taking a superiority attitude when others stumble.
The Judgment of God
“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.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
Paul told the Corinthian church, “You’re judging God’s servants at the wrong time. When the Lord returns, He will evaluate our ministries.” The Corinthians evaluated things in the flesh, thinking their leaders needed to be more entertaining, like cultural orators.
As Jesus said, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). The Corinthians had already said that Paul wasn’t very impressive looking—it was all very fleshy.
They were judging with the wrong standard, basing judgments on personal preferences and prejudices rather than God’s Word. They were also judging with the wrong motive, going beyond what was written in Scripture and operating on the basis of opinions, which was dividing the church.
2) We Are a Spectacle
The Apostle Paul used sanctified sarcasm to confront their pride:
“Already, you have all you want! Already, you have become rich! Without us, you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.” 1 Corinthians 4:8-10 (emphasis added)
Paul used a term very familiar in the Roman Empire. The Roman government entertained citizens in amphitheaters where prisoners would fight lions to death. The Greek word “spectacle” (θέατρον, theatron) is where we get the English word “theater.”
When the main events ended, they would release the poorest and weakest prisoners to fight the lions or other wild beasts. No one expected much from this portion of the performance. This was the picture Paul used to describe the apostles—while the Corinthians thought they were so great, the apostles were like those at the tail end, bottom rung of the ladder.
The Apostle Paul was separating God’s facts from fiction. He exposed the level of their false self-perception and opened their eyes so they may awaken and see the reality of the lies they had bought into.
No Room for Pride
“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour, we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” 1 Corinthians 4:10-13
These verses tell us there is no room for pride for a follower of Jesus. Jesus said to another church that thought too much of their own way: “You say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
The Apostle Paul knew something about worldly achievement. He described himself as “a Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5), meaning he had the highest educational pedigree in the Jewish system, equivalent to degrees from MIT and Harvard. He could have placed all his confidence and identity in those things.
It was through Paul’s personal suffering and conversion to Christ that helped him understand reality. When he suffered with a thorn in his flesh, Paul taught us from his experience that “in my weakness, I have discovered that there is great grace from God available to strengthen me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In weakness, he knew strength.
If Paul had remained in the Jewish religion, he would have had a much easier life. If he had sided with the Jewish rabbis and not taken the gospel to the Gentiles, he never would have been persecuted. But his life was surrendered to Jesus, and he was compelled to take the love of the Word of God and the gospel to all people for His glory.
Becoming Foolish to Become Wise
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18
When you’re deceived, you don’t know you’re deceived because you’re deceived. Paul reminds us you can’t have it both ways. The gospel of Christ is foolishness in the eyes of the world (1 Corinthians 1:18). If you place your life upon what Jesus Christ has done for you, you cannot follow Jesus without it being countercultural.
This is why Jesus said things like “count the cost” (Luke 14:28) and “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you” (Luke 6:26). As Winston Churchill once said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
Jim Elliott wisely said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Why Paul Was Willing to Suffer
The Apostle Paul was willing to suffer not only because he loved God but also because he loved people. Sometimes, because you love deeply, you don’t enable—you correct. That’s what Paul was doing with the church, helping to guide her to be alive in Christ again.
The Son of God came because He loved you. At the cross, He took your sin. When you return to Jesus and repent of whatever sin may be building a wall between you and God, remember that God is merciful. His mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:23). Mercy means you do not get what you deserve—God forgives and cleanses.
If your life is in Christ, if you surrender to Him, He declares you’re a new creation. “Old things pass away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Only God can do this.
Let Jesus renew your first love. When the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Return to your first love and let Him renew you for His glory.
TL;DR
In a culture obsessed with platform and polish, Paul delivers a blistering correction to the Corinthian church’s warped view of leadership. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 4:1–13, this sermon reveals that the true measure of a minister isn’t charisma, applause, or even perceived effectiveness—it’s faithfulness.
Paul uses two powerful metaphors:
A Steward — A servant who owns nothing and is judged only by the Master’s standards, not public opinion.
A Spectacle — A condemned prisoner paraded before the world, revealing that true apostleship often means public shame and deep suffering.
He calls out premature judgment, prideful comparison, and flesh-driven favoritism. The world may call faithful ministers “fools,” but God calls them sons and daughters.
The gospel turns ministry upside down—and if we’re building on anything but Christ, we’re not building well.
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