Faithful Stewards 忠心的管家
Dexu Xia
It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
Today's Scripture I Corinthians 4:1-13
Today's Insights Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address specific problems that had arisen in the Corinthian church: criticism of his ministry (chs. 1-4); sexual immorality (ch. 5); lawsuits (ch. 6); marriage, divorce, and singleness (ch. 7); food offered to idols (chs. 8-10); women in ministry and the Lord’s Supper (ch. 11); use of spiritual gifts (chs. 12-14); resurrection (ch. 15); and offerings (ch. 16).
In chapter 4, he deals with the root cause of these problems. The Corinthians’ arrogance, self-importance, and self-sufficiency (vv. 6-13) had caused division in the church. The apostle deliberately and confidently uses as an example of how to be a faithful servant of Christ (vv. 1-2) and to live a Christlike life of simplicity, transparency, integrity, and humility. Today, we can ask God to help us be faithful stewards of what God has given us.
Today's Devotion In March 2024, a US aerospace corporation failed a safety audit conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The audit came on the heels of multiple safety incidents, including a flight that had experienced a dangerous drop in cabin pressure when a door-plug panel on the jet had torn away. A spokesman for the company acknowledged that the failures were due to instructions for employees being difficult to understand and altered too often, resulting in them not faithfully adhering to approved procedures.
Paul told the church at Corinth that they should view him and other leaders as faithful and approved “servants of Christ” and declared that he’d been “entrusted” with being a steward for God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Stewards in Paul’s day were entrusted with overseeing the management and distribution of household resources. Above everything else, a fundamental requirement for those given these responsibilities was faithfulness. Paul labeled himself as a steward who “[worked] hard with [his] own hands” to live out his responsibilities (v. 12)—carefully using what God had given him, especially the wisdom He’d been given and the mysteries of the gospel (vv. 1-2).
As Jesus provides, let’s strive to be faithful stewards, adhering to His approved and flawless standard in our spiritual practices, work duties, and personal relationships.
Reflect & Pray
How can we be faithful to the trust God has given us? What does it mean for you to be a steward for Him?
Heavenly Father, please help me be a faithful steward for You.
By Marvin williams
所求于管家的，是要他有忠心。（哥林多前书4:2）
今日经文：哥林多前书4章1-13 节
今日洞见：保罗撰写哥林多前书旨在解决哥林多教会内部出现的具体问题，即对他事奉工作的批评（1-4章）；性道德败坏（5章）；诉讼纠纷（6章）；婚姻、离婚与独身（7章）；祭偶像之物（8-10章）；妇女参与事奉与主的晚餐（11章）；属灵恩赐的运用（12-14章）；复活的真理（15章）；以及奉献（16章）。在第4章中，保罗探讨了这些问题的根源：是哥林多信徒的傲慢、自视甚高，以及自足的心态（6-13节），导致了教会内部的分裂。这位使徒刻意且自信地以自身为例，教导信徒如何作基督忠心的仆人（1-2节），以及如何活出一种效法基督的生命，即一种简朴、坦诚、正直且谦卑的生活。如今，我们可以祈求上帝帮助我们，使我们能忠心地管理上帝所托付给我们的一切。
今日灵修：2024年3月，一家美国航空航天公司未能通过联邦航空管理局（FAA）实施的安全审计。此次审计是在该公司接连发生多起安全事故之后进行的，其中包括一次惊险的飞行事故。当时，一架喷气式客机上的一个舱门堵板脱落，导致机舱气压骤降。该公司的一位发言人承认，造成这些失误的原因，是因为对员工设定的操作指令艰涩难懂，而且经常变更，以致于员工无法正确地遵照核准的程序行事。
保罗告诉哥林多教会的信徒，他们应当将他和教会的其他领袖视为忠心且被认可的“基督的仆人”；他更郑重宣告，自己已受“托付”，成为上帝家中的管家（哥林多前书4:1-2）。在保罗所处的时代，管家受主人托付，负责监督并管理家中的各项资源与分配事务。而在所有对管家的要求中，主人对那些肩负如此重任的人，最根本且首要的要求便是忠心。保罗自视为一名管家，他“亲手劳力”以践行自己的职责（第12节）即审慎地运用上帝所赐予他的一切，尤其是他所领受的智慧以及福音的奥秘（1-2节）。既然耶稣已供应了一切，让我们立志成为忠心的管家，无论是在属灵操练、工作职责，还是人际关系中，都坚守祂所认可的那毫无瑕疵的标准。
反思与祷告 我们当如何忠于上帝所托付的信任？对你而言，作为祂的管家究竟意味着什么？
天父啊，求祢帮助我成为祢忠心的管家。
作者：马文·威廉姆斯