STEWARDSHIP AND FAITHFULNESS

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NKJV) Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and
stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be
found faithful.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human
court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet
I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge
nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the
hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each ones
praise will come from God.
In other words Paul is saying let there be no doubt that we are Christs and that
we represent Him and we are to be faithful or trustworthy i.e. God can trust us,
but really he says Im not as concerned of what men think about my service to
God as much as what God thinks about my service and anyway men judgments of
other men is mostly wrong even mens judgment of themselves is mostly wrong
because they judge by their own standards which we all know are biased and
twisted.
So then its useless to be men pleasers and to think that we have arrived is just as
dangerous. We wont really know the true merit of our service until we stand
before God on that great and Glorious day! When all of what we did or claimed to
do for God will be tested by fire! But the thing is just to be faithful
God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. Gods Word speaks of
faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord,
faithful ministers. And all points up that day when He will say, Well done, thou
good and faithful servant. Faithfulness is the key!
Once while walking with a senator in Calcutta India the Senator asked Mother
Theresa How can you bear the load without being crushed by it and she replied
My Dear Senator Im not called to be successful, But Faithful we as God people
are to be faithful to what God has called us to do and then leave the results to
God! Sometimes as Christians God speaks to us and asks us to do things and we
respond with excitement and then because things dont go they the way we
Victory Outreach Church of Reno 2010. All Rights Reserved.
1|P a ge

STEWARDSHIP AND FAITHFULNESS

planned and the fruit is not so great and it not as rewarding as it was at first we
convince ourselves that we should be doing something else but that is not always
the case.
ONCE A MAN WROTE IN A NEWS PAPER ARTICLE
MAKE EVERY OCCASION A GREAT OCCASION, FOR YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHEN
SOMEONE CAN BE TAKING YOUR MEASURE FOR A LARGER PLACE
By this quotation I would like to point out how God uses ministry to shape and
mold people but also the minister to us.
4 things will take place if you stay on your post Hab 2:4 "Behold the proud, His
soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith." In the original
Hebrew the word Faith is translated faithfulness I.E the just shall live by being
faithful Matt 25:21 "His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter
into the joy of your lord."
1. Our work is supposed to make us grow (2) We are always being measured
(3) Each job prepares us for the next one (4) The Lord may move us when
he sees we are ready
Our service for the Lord should make us grow if not we are in the wrong
place or we have the wrong attitude about the right place and being
miserable where you are at doesnt necessarily mean that you are in the
wrong place.
God may have put you there for your good or for the good of that ministry,
or he may have some unfinished work to accomplish in your life. On the
other hand if you like where youre at but are not challenged you could
stop growing and that is why even when you are in the right ministry God
will make you uncomfortable but only to challenge you and make you grow.
We need the work more than the work needs us God chose you to grow you.

Victory Outreach Church of Reno 2010. All Rights Reserved.

2|P a ge

STEWARDSHIP AND FAITHFULNESS

2. WE ARE ALWAYS BEING MEASURED : God is measuring us and

people are measuring us others and we are ourselves can make mistakes
about where we are at in our measuring most Christians think either more
highly of themselves or they put themselves down Rom 12:3 "For I say,
through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has
dealt to each one a measure of faith."
The Lord is the only one who can accurately measure us and our work .
When God wants to let you know that your measuring up he will sometimes
have someone tell you thank you and when that happens be thankful for it
and humbly accept it as from the Lord , sometime the Lord encourages you
with a very special answer to prayer .
A WORD OF CAUTION Get ready for the devil to come in because he
doesnt like it when Gods people are encouraged; Or God will open other
doors
But the smart thing to do is just do your work and leave the measuring to
God And whatever you do; do it as unto the Lord people who do their best
always do more though they be haunted by the sense of failure a Scottish
minister once said
BE GOOD AND TRUE; BE PATIENT; BE UNDAUNTED I.E DONT
WORRY. LEAVE YOUR USEFULNESS TO GOD TO ESTIMATE. HE
WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOU DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE OR LIVE
IN VAIN.
3. EACH JOB PREPARES YOU FOR THE NEXT "For exaltation comes
neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the
Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. (Psalm 75:6-7, NKJV)
The bible testifies to this over and over again Lil David was faithful in the
Shepard field and landed as king in the palace Joseph went from being a
faithful servant to being second in command in Egypt Joshua was faithful to
Moses and ended up taking his place Elisha served Elijah and succeeded him
with an even greater anointing. (Another word of caution never get into a
Victory Outreach Church of Reno 2010. All Rights Reserved.
3|P a ge

STEWARDSHIP AND FAITHFULNESS

ministry just so you can set yourself up to get to where you think you
should be LET GOD BE THE ONE TO DO THAT AND YOU WILL
NEVER END UP IN THE WRONG PLACE.

4. THE LORD MAY MOVE US WHEN HE SEES WE ARE READY I say

may because God may keep you in a place to do a special work in you and
through you and staying in one place for a long time is not an easy thing
One thing we can be sure of is ; that when it comes to moving servants
around God is always on time and he is never wrong he might move us to a
bigger place or to a smaller place that were supposed to make bigger, he
may put us in a situation for which we feel totally unprepared and very
uncomfortable but all he is doing is giving us room to grow
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall
reap if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9, NKJV)
"Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no
pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38, NKJV) this word Faith is actually
Faithfulness
"And you will be hated by all for My names sake. But he who endures to the
end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22, NKJV)

Victory Outreach Church of Reno 2010. All Rights Reserved.

4|P a ge