A few years after Paul initiated the work of God in Corinth he found himself in an adversarial relationship with his spiritual children. From I Corinthians 4:1-5 we discover a few insights into Pauls foundational values that kept him faithful to God during his difficult life of ministry. Keying off of Paul, you may want to ask yourself these questions:
#1 Do I have a sober understanding of my God-given responsibility? So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secrets things of God. (Verse 1)
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you (Col. 1:25a) (See 1 Cor. 9:16-18; 2 Cor. 12:6; I Cor. 4:5)
#2 Am I faithful to my calling? Now a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. (Verse 2)
For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus (I Cor. 4:17a) (See Num. 12:7; Matt. 25:21-23; Lk. 12:42; 16:10-12; 2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2; Col. 1:17)
#3 Am I unduly concerned about what others think of me? What about me? Have I been faithful? Well, it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. (Verse 3)
The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment.(I Cor. 2:15) (See Jn. 7:24; I Cor. 3:12-15)
#4 Do I have a clear conscience? My conscience is clear, but that isn’t what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. (Verse 4)
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this daySo I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (Act. 23:1b; 24:16) (See 2 Cor. 1:12; 4:2; I Jn. 3:20,21)
#5 Am I hiding anything? When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light (Verse 5b)
This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:16a) (See Ecc. 11:9; 12:14; Heb. 4:13)
#6 Are my motives pure? When the Lord comes, he will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due. (Verse 5c)
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. (Lk. 12:2,3)
QUESTION: Have you chiseled out a few non-negotiable values for which you are willing to go to the wall? The day will come when you will be called upon to do just that. Why not prepare now for that inevitable day?