作神的管家
哥林多前书四章1至5节
1人应当以我们为基督的执事，为神奥秘事的管家。
2所求于管家的，是要他有忠心。
3我被你们论断，或被别人论断，我都以为极小的事；连我自己也不论断自己。
4我虽不觉得自己有错，却也不能因此得以称义；但判断我的乃是主。
5所以，时候未到，甚么都不要论断，只等主来，他要照出暗中的隐情，显明人心的意念。那时，各人要从神那里得著称赞。
信息分享
作耶稣基督的仆人究竟是甚么意思？今天所读的经文，为我们提供了两幅图画，指出信徒作为神的仆人，所承担的是甚么工作。
保罗用了两个不同的名称，来形容信徒在耶稣基督里的身份。第一个名称是「仆人」。这个词的原意，是指到古时那些在大船上划桨的工人。他们必须听从工头的指令。根据约翰福音十八章36节的记载，基督在彼拉多面前受审时，就用过这个词：「我的国若属这世界，我臣仆必要争战。」因此，在救主的心目中，祂的仆人一听见祂发出命令，就会立即遵从，不会提出任何问题，并且绝对服从祂的权威。我们若想作祂所喜悦的仆人，就必须与祂相交，这样才能明白祂的心意。
保罗采用的第二个名称是「管家」。在保罗的时代，管家是家中的众仆之首。他要负责管理主人的全部家业。旧约的约瑟，便是波提乏的好管家。以利以谢也是亚伯拉罕的好管家。管家的责任不在于提供一切的所需，反之，是将主人所提供的一切作出适当的分配。
同样地，基督已为我们提供所需用的一切，并且将分配的责任交给我们。因此，我们要了解自己从主领受到甚么东西，然后拿出来与有需要的人分享。
我们至少已有甚么东西可以与人分享呢？保罗指出，那就是福音的奥秘。那是甚么意思？奥秘当然是指到秘密，可是，经文告诉我们，神已将这个奥秘向我们显明。我们不能自行发现这个奥秘，只有神向我们显明，我们才能够知晓。神向我们显明这个重要真理，为的是希望所有人都能够分享福音的信息，并且，更能得着祂儿子耶稣基督的死所带来的好处。
反思：
「所求于管家的，是要他有忠心。」(林前四2)
HOUSE-KEEPERS FOR GOD
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
3 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.
4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
5 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 one’s praise will come from God.
Message
What is your definition of a servant of Jesus Christ? Here in this section of chapter four, we are given two pictures of the work of all believers as servants of Christ. These words were written concerning Paul and Apollos, but they apply to us as well.
In stating our position in Jesus Christ, Paul uses two words which are very interesting. The first word is 'servants' or 'ministers'. It is a word used to describe those who pulled the huge oars in the old time ships. Those men had to work strictly under the command of their leader. Christ used the word in John 18:36 when he was standing before Pilate. He said, 'My kingdom is not of this world or my servants would fight for me'. The Saviour considered his servants as those who immediately obey him, ask no questions and recognise his authority. To know what he wants us to do we must be in touch with him. We must seek to know and to do his will, if we are to be the kind of servants he wants us to be.
The second word used by Paul is 'stewards'. The steward of Paul's day was head of the housekeeping. He was in charge of the whole administration of the house and estate. Joseph was a good steward in Potiphar's home. Eliezer was a good steward in Abraham's household. Theirs was not the final responsibility of providing all that was needed, but rather of distributing what the master provided.
In the same way, Christ has made the provision and has given us the task of distribution-of seeing that what he has provided is shared with those who need it.
What do we have to distribute? Paul says the mysteries of God or the Gospel. What does this mean? A mystery in this verse means a secret which God himself has revealed. It is something we could not discover, but which God has shown to us. It is the great truth that God wants everyone to share in the gospel message and to benefit from the death of his Son, Jesus Christ.
QUESTION:
What is required of a steward? That he be faithful to his work (v.2).