These principles are dwelt upon at length in Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church.The apostle refers to "the ministers of Christ" as "stewards of the mysteries of God," and of their work he declares: "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, Ijudge not mine own self.For I know nothing by myself; yet I am not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord.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 hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."1 Corinthians 4:1-5.
It is not given to any human being to judge between the different servants of God.The Lord alone is the judge of man's work, and He will give to each his just reward.
The apostle, continuing, referred directly to the comparisons that had been made between his labors and those of Apollos: "These things, brethren, Ihave in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" Verses 6, 7.
Paul plainly set before the church the perils and the hardships that he and his associates had patiently endured in their service for Christ."Even unto this present hour," he declared, "we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." Verses 11-15.
He who sends forth gospel workers as His ambassadors is dishonored when there is manifested among the hearers so strong an attachment to some favorite minister that there is an unwillingness to accept the labors of some other teacher.The Lord sends help to His people, not always as they may choose, but as they need; for men are shortsighted and cannot discern what is for their highest good.It is seldom that one minister has all the qualifications necessary to perfect a church in all the requirements of Christianity; therefore God often sends to them other ministers, each possessing some qualifications in which the others were deficient.
The church should gratefully accept these servants of Christ, even as they would accept the Master Himself.They should seek to derive all the benefit possible from the instruction which each minister may give them from the word of God.The truths that the servants of God bring are to be accepted and appreciated in the meekness of humility, but no minister is to be idolized.
