Fellow redeemed in Christ,
It was to his younger co-worker, Timothy, that the Apostle Paul addressed the words: "This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop [a spiritual overseer], he desireth a good work." During the past semester we have learned from Holy Scripture several reasons why the public ministry is an excellent thing in the sight of our God. Today we are considering another such reason. The ministry of Christian pastors and teachers is a good thing also because it serves the on-going spiritual needs of the flock. Our text is 1 Corinthians 4:1: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. "
The called servant of the Word, Paul says, is "a minister of Christ." The word for "minister" here in the Greek has a picturesque history behind it. It was used originally of the under-rowers in the ancient ships--those men who would tug on the cars in strict time to the drum beats of the deck master. In a similar way, the called pastor or teacher is serving under his divine Master, Jesus Christ, and is to carry on his work in strict agreement with the Word and will of Jesus Christ.
But it is especially the second phrase of our text which is our concern this morning. The pastor or teacher is also "a steward of the mysteries of God." The "mysteries of God" are those precious truths of salvation which have been revealed to mankind in Holy Scripture. And what does it mean to be a steward of these Gospel truths? Christ spells this out in more detail when He speaks of such a steward as a servant to whom the master had entrusted his goods and whose responsibility it was to give to the members of the household "meat in due season" (Matt. 24:45) - giving to each member of the family at the right time that food which he needed. In a similar way the Christian pastor or teacher has been entrusted by Christ with the Word of God, and it is his responsibility under Christ to give to each member of the flock that nourishment from God's Word which he needs at any particular time.
The hymn which we have just sung suggests some of the ways in which Christ provides for the on-going spiritual needs of His Christians through these called ministers. "Seek Thou the wandering sheep"-—through the called minister of the Word, Christ goes out after that person who has fallen from faith and is walking the broad road that leads to destruction, and brings him back to repentance and faith through the preaching of the Law and Gospel. "Bind up the sore opprest"--through the called minister of the Word, Christ gives comfort to that man or woman or child who is pressed down by troubles of one kind or another. "Lift up the fallen ones"-—through the called minister of the Word, Christ raises up that member who is crushed down by his sin, by assuring him that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Rom. 5:20). "And grant the weary rest"-~through the called minister of the Word, Christ pro- claims to all those who are burdened with their sin and its consequences: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).
What's good, then, about the pastoral or teaching ministry? It‘s good because through this stewardship of the Word of God it serves the on-going spiritual needs of the flock. What can compare to the blessed satisfaction of comforting a troubled sinner with words like these: "Even as David had forgiveness for his adultery and murder, and Peter had forgiveness for his denial of Christ, so also do you have the forgiveness of all your sins through the blood and righteousness of your Savior"! What can compare to the happy joy there in the classroom of teaching a little child to sing: "I am Jesus' little lamb, Ever glad at heart I am"! What can compare to the high privilege of preparing a fellow saint to meet death with confidence: "0 death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( 1 Cor. 15:55, 57)!
Every pastor and Christian teacher will of course live through times of difficulty and discouragement. But when he considers how the Lord through him is serving the ongoing spiritual needs of the flock--those eternal needs that are the most important needs of all--then he will surely join the Apostle Paul in saying: "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15: 10)--it is by God's undeserved love that I received a call into the public ministry. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8). How good indeed is the public ministry! Amen.
