Have you ever wondered what people see when they look at you? I have often reflected on this thought. I have often been misunderstood, and after analyzing my words and actions, I can see why assumptions were made that were not what I intended. I am a “matter of fact” kind of person. I see a situation, make a plan, and execute the plan. I don’t like wasting time, and this is interpreted as rude. However, my motives do not matter if they are misunderstood. The common thought or manner in which people handle being misunderstood is to say, “That’s their problem, not mine.” This may sound good to the average person, but the heart of it is not like Jesus. We are to be concerned with what people think; otherwise, we will never win them to Christ. We are to be as Paul was in I Corinthians 4:16 “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.” Paul could make this request because he was following Christ so closely that if they mimicked him, they would be mimicking Jesus. This attitude will change everything about you when your life is used as an example of who Jesus is.
In verses 1 and 2, Paul begins to give instructions on what people should see in us. I Corinthians 4:1-2 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.” The bottom line here is that we are to be seen as faithful.”
Paul could speak of the requirement of faithfulness because he was always faithful after his salvation. We never saw anywhere that Paul was ready to give up or complain about being stressed out. His life was devoted to his Savior, and he never got over what Jesus did for him. Paul defines himself as a minister of Christ.
A minister is one who is under the authority of Christ. The word minister fundamentally means ‘servant’. He calls himself a servant. The Greek word he uses for servant is “hyperetas.” In ordinally referred to an under-rower on a massive Roman galley ship. These servants were at the bottom of the ship, rowing in unison, entirely dependent on the captain’s commands. They did not set the ship’s course; they just pulled the oars.
The other word Paul used to describe himself was “steward.” A steward was a manager of someone else’s property. A steward owned absolutely nothing but was responsible for managing the master’s estate with absolute integrity. The primary requirement for a steward was to be faithful to his master.
It was obvious to those who knew Paul that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. Once he accepted Jesus as his Savior, his desire was to please the Savior and win others to Him. He chose to continue working as a tentmaker and to support himself, rather than becoming a burden on the churches he was establishing. In Acts 18:1-3, we see Paul going to Corinth, where he found a couple named Aquila and Priscilla who were also tentmakers. He stayed with them and worked with them. By working a regular trade, Paul could enter new cities, engage with the local marketplace, and preach the gospel without relying on monetary support from the new, struggling churches he was helping to establish. It also gave him common ground with the working class. He could work with them and engage in conversations to teach them about saving faith.
Act 18:1-3 “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”
There was no doubt about who Paul served and why He served Jesus. He went to great lengths to ensure those around him knew he was a disciple of Christ. He went the extra mile to avoid accusations of serving for money or fame. His message was always to the point, and there could be no misunderstanding of who he served.
Now is the time to apply it to our lives. Are you so faithful that when you miss church, everyone notices? Is your daily walk consumed with finding ways to talk to others about their relationship or lack of a relationship with Jesus? Is your bible study so intent and regular that you can’t help but bring up scriptures that spoke to you that morning? What about your prayer life? Can you give evidence to others of prayers you have prayed, and God has answered? What do people see? Are you muddying the waters of your faith by being inconsistent? Do you grumble and complain because the church has so much going on that you cannot plan other activities? What are you saying to those you work with, those you go to church with, and those you see when you are out and about? What do people see? Be honest with yourself and do not allow yourself to make excuses or justify your behavior that is not like Christ.
