FAITHFUL STEWARDS: Devotion for Sunday May 1, 2016

FAITHFUL STEWARDS: Devotion for Sunday May 1, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 6    Memory verse: v 2

Happy workers day to all workers of different categories! Our text came as a response to the revaluation of humans by the Corinthians. Although the term ‘servants’ (4:1) denotes subordination, “stewards” (4:2) emphasizes privilege and responsibility. Leadership is a call to a pure and trustworthy character (4:2). The Corinthians acted as if they were the judges at the last day, but that was too early (4:5, “before the Lord returns”). Their judgments of Christians were not for edification, but to put a final tag of good or bad, in or out, on the ones they judged. It was a non-ministry judgment that had its source in pride. This is very common even among us Christians of today. According to Family Bible Notes, “Fidelity to God and to the souls of men, in rightly dispensing the truths of the gospel, and in enforcing them by a uniformly holy and consistent example, is required of all ministers of Christ.” This is the emphasis of Paul in 4:2.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare, poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well” so says Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. As we celebrate workers day today, it is appropriate to evaluate our calls as servants of whatever category we may be. How faithful are you in your job? Do you do it so well, as Martin Luther King Jnr. suggested? We should remember that our call is to be faithful first to God and then to our employer. May God, grant us that grace in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: The supreme quality required in a steward is fidelity to his trust.

Prayer: Lord God, help me never to betray the trust you have reposed on me.