Let a Man Regard Us in This Manner
By George Stroh
April 30, 2012
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)
Whenever we meet someone for the first time, we naturally try to understand who they really are. How should we regard them? Are they famous or rich or popular or important? Their name, common friends, their approximate age and appearance may give us some insight. Although we know that you "can't always judge a book by its cover".
The Apostle Paul was very well known before his conversion on the road to Damascus. He had an impressive resume; Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eight day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:4-8)
Although Paul was once somebody very important he knew that only one thing really mattered about who he was now. He told everyone he met that he was a "servant", literally a "bond-servant" or "slave". His master was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Slaves in Paul's day had no rights and owned no personal property. They were totally dependent upon and completely subservient to their own masters. Paul also wanted those he met to know that he was a steward of the mysteries of God (God's Word, the Bible) and that his job as a slave was to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It really didn't matter who Paul was. He focused all his attention on his Master. He preached Christ and Him crucified!
Do those you meet know who you are? Do they know that you also love the Lord Jesus Christ and that you too are His slave? Let a man regard us in this manner... Maranatha!
