MINISTERS, THE LORD's STEWARDS.
I Cor. iv. 1. 2. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and steivards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in steivards, that a man he found faithful.
THE apostolic Churches were not so blameless as we are apt to imagine. Many evils obtained among them ; and not in a few insulated individuals only, but in the great mass of the people. The Church at Corinth was peculiarly faulty : many and great evils obtained among them : dissension and division in particular, were fomented among them : and the very diversity of gifts which were exercised among them, instead of being an occasion of more exalted piety, was made a source of discord. The people had their favourite preachers, under whom they ranged them- selves as partisans and followers ; one being of Paul, another of Apollos, another of Cephas ; and another of Christ, as having heard and enjoyed his personal ministrations. To allay .this spirit, St. Paul teaches them what account to make of all their teachers, and what to look for at their hands : not flattery, as heads
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of parties ; but fidelity, as stewards of their great Lord and Master.
Let us here see,
I. In what hght people are to view their ministers — Ministers come not in their own name, but as or- dained of God for the benefit of the Church. They are to be viewed,
1. As ministers of Christ —
[They are sent by Christ. They come not of themselves, but as commissioned by him. It is his message which they bring; his will that they perform. By them it is that he speaks to men. As earthly kings are represented by their ambassadors, and speak by them in foreign courts, so the Lord Jesus Christ himself speaks by his ministers : they stand in his stead : they speak in his name : their word is not their own, but his ; and must be received, " not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God."]
2. As stewards of the mysteries of God —
[They are not merely servants or ministers, but servants of a peculiar class. The whole Church is one great family ; and they are appointed as " stewards," to " give to every one his portion in due season." To them " the mysteries of God" are more especially committed, that they may dispense them to all, according to their respective necessities ; giving " milk to babes, and strong meat to those who are of full age." The whole of God's revelation is full of mysteries, which, in due season, they are to unfold : but that which they are chiefly to make known, is the stupendous mystery of redemption. They are to shew, as occasion may require, the need there was of redemption ; the means by which it is wrought, even by the incarnation and death of God's only dear Son ; and the way in which it is applied to men, by the mighty operation of the
Spirit of God upon the soul It is not necessary that
they should be always insisting on one particular topic : the subject comprehends an immense range ; and every part of it must be brought forward in its turn : but the one great mystery must be always kept in view ; and the dispensing of it must ever be considered as the appropriate office of the ministers of Christ ]
This being their true character and designation, it will easily appear,
II. In what way ministers are to conduct themselves
towards their people —