(1 Cor. 4:1-5.)

In this scripture the Lord's servants are said to be "ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God " (ver. i). They minister Christ and use wisely what God has taught them of unseen things. Primarily this refers to the apostles, but it is also written to show the Corinthians, and therefore us, the marks of a true servant.

Having made this statement regarding himself and those associated with him in the Lord's work,
the apostle then proceeds to show the exercises of soul he passed through in carrying out his service.

(1) He did not accept the judgment of man as authoritative (ver. 3).

(2) He did not pronounce upon his own work (ver. 3).

(3) He did not regard a good conscience as judge (ver. 4, N. Trans.).

(4) He acknowledged the Lord only as judge (ver. 4).

(5) He awaited the Lord's coming to reveal what was hidden (ver. 5).

He did not accept the judgment of man as authoritative, saying :"It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment," because, had he accepted it, he would have admitted a principle of authority which by its recognition would ultimately have caused the Lord's servants to look and listen for the approval of man. Such an attitude would have hindered God's servants from doing their work, or would have so lowered the standard of judgment that in result man, not the Lord, would have ruled God's servants.

This does not mean that laborers can ignore what their brethren may think or say about their work. It would be ruinous to assert that what is self-evident could not be pronounced upon by saints who hear or see it. Scripture, on the contrary, says:"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge" (chap. 14:29). What is said, is what "the others" are to judge.

However, what is before us in 'chapter 4 are things in service hidden from the eye of man, which can only be judged of by Him who weighs motives and tries the heart. Hence, however valuable the approval or disapproval of one's brethren may be as to matters which are open to all, the Lord's servant will only do his work right as he labors consciously under the eye of a Master who searches the heart, and not as under »the eye of those who can only judge of what lies on the surface. Otherwise, unfaithful stewardship will mar his work, and may lead to his removal from it.

The apostle did not pronounce upon his own work, as he says:"Yea, I judge not mine own self," for he well knew that there was the possibility of something of the flesh seeking to mix itself with what was of the Spirit, and that only the Lord could appraise things at their just value. It is true, of course, that the apostle sought to walk in accord with the cross of Christ and in the power of the Spirit of God ; that he habitually exercised himself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man; nevertheless, having so done, he did not therefore assume that his work was all it ought to be; indeed, he owned that he was incapable of deciding upon such matters, saying:"I judge not mine own self."

He did not regard a good conscience as judge in such matters, for he says :" I know nothing by (literally, against) myself ; yet am I not hereby justified." And if the apostle took such ground, surely it becomes us all to weigh his words. For although we may be sincerely working, each in our measure, and know nothing against ourselves in what we are doing, our unconsciousness of anything wrong by no means guarantees that all is right. Perhaps if the Lord suddenly allowed us to see all in our work, or in our way of doing it, which He disapproved of, we might be overwhelmed with shame or despair. It is not that He will pass over what is unsuitable, but in His knowledge of our measure and of our frames, and in His goodness and wisdom He makes us see only a little at a time.

The apostle acknowledges the Lord only as judge:" He that judgeth me is the Lord." To him the knowledge of this was as encouraging as it was solemn. Although aware of human criticism and conscious of personal infirmities, he did not .allow the knowledge of these things to divert him from his work. On the contrary, he could look up to One who makes no mistakes, and say:" He that judgeth me is the Lord." In the strength of this holy supervision he pressed forward diligently, and we know he labored more abundantly than any other apostle.

He awaited the Lord's coming to reveal what was hidden, as it is written:"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart:and then shall every man have praise of God." Here the apostle warns against going beyond one's depth in assuming to give verdicts on matters which lie beyond our vision. Those who neglect this warning will do harm. Let us rather trust our blessed Lord to deal with things which lie bare before Him, although obscure to us. They will be laid bare before all at the proper time. "Many a human verdict will then be reversed. Meanwhile, he who would serve the 'Lord must go on day by day in sympathy with the attitude of our patient Master, knowing that if in this life he has done any good thing, he will get praise from God in the day that is coming. R. J. R.