Let's open our rivals together now please to
the book of 1st Corinthians. Today we continue
looking at the situation in the Corinthian Church.
And in that paragraph that we began in verse
18 of 1st Corinthians 3, today, I want us to
think about what makes a successful leader. We
expect leaders to be trained as well as born.
Among those places where we think of them as
being trained are military academies. I came
across a list recently of some employee performance
reports from the Royal Navy and Marine Officers
Academy. officers obviously were being evaluated
in terms of what their future would hold. I thought
you might be interested in hearing some of the
evaluations of these officers. One commander
said regarding an officer, his men would follow
him anywhere, but only out of curiosity. That's
not leadership. The other said this officer really
is not so much of a has -been. but more of a
depth of what he won't be. Get the picture on
that one. In other sense, since my last report,
he has reached block bottom and has started to
dig. You get the picture, this guy's in trouble.
This could probably go for a few teenagers, too.
Works well when under constant supervision and
cornered like a rat in a trap. one that I can
identify with. I don't know about you, but the
officer in charge says when she opens her mouth,
it seems that this is only to change what was
previously in there. But one of my favorites
is this officer should go far, and the sooner
he starts, the better. We're going to see here
today in the text before us. Paul talks about
leadership in a sort of an indirect way. Important
lessons for us knowing whatever role of leadership
we have. We're going to apply it especially to
ministry leadership, but believe me, it applies
in your family, it applies in the company you
work for, whatever arena where you are, one who
deserves the influence over others. What we talk
about today is very practical for you. I'll remind
you that the first concern of Paul's heart, as
he writes, this church in Corinth centers on
the divisive attitude which the congregation
had toward leaders. In our study last week, we
saw that Paul is reminding these people that
each of their leaders is unique, but that they're
all equal. That is, they're all nothing really
in comparison to God. They shouldn't boast in
leaders who really are nothing. When one considers
God, he speaks about the diversity of gifts,
but the fact that they function as a team. And
therefore, don't divide the team up by picking
your favorite leader. He says, each one will
receive his own reward for his faithful labor.
who reminds them that they belong to God. The
leaders belong to God, not to the Corinthians.
And that God's purpose for them is to build up
the church. So Paul's point is, if that's God's
purpose for your leaders to build you up, then
why are you tearing yourselves down over the
personalities of your leaders? By picking your
favorites and dividing yourselves into parties.
He has to summary exhortations to these celebrity
conscious believers, and that's what we begin
with in verse 18. He says, let no man deceive
himself. If any man among you thinks that he
is wise in this age, let him become foolish,
that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness before God. That is written,
he is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.
And again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the
wise, that they're useless. So then let no one
boast in men, for all things belong to you, whether
Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life
or death or things present or things to come.
All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ,
and Christ belongs to God. summary of exhortations,
he says, first, let no man deceive himself. The
kind of thinking that they were using in the
church, leading to division, was foolish and
worldly. That is, to absolve men, to follow after
men. The second exhortation is in verse 21 where
he says, let no one boast in men. It's needless
to most admit anyway, he says, because they all
belong to you. You don't have to divide yourselves
up and follow your favorite preacher. They all
belong to you, just like you belong to Christ
and Christ to God. So you see what he does here,
he says, get your eyes off of them and focus
on Christ. Focus on the Lord, because that's
where unity comes from. As he goes on, Paul uses
two word pictures to illustrate an appropriate
way to be of God's servants. He says, let a man
regard us, who? Peter, Paul, Paulus, other ministry
leaders. Let a man regard us in this manner as
servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries
of God. We'll want to read the rest of the text
through verse seven. In this case, moreover,
it is required of stewards that one be found
trustworthy, but to me it is a very small thing
that I should be examined by you or by any human
court. In fact, I do not even examine myself.
I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet
I am not, by this, acquitted. But the one who
examines me is the Lord. Therefore, do not go
on passing judgment before the time. But wait
until the Lord comes. who will both bring to
light the things hidden in the darkness and dispose
the millions of men's hearts. And then each man's
praise will come to him from God. Now these things,
brethren, I have figuratively applied my to myself
in applause for your sakes. Then in us you men
are not to exceed what is written, but in order
that no one of you might become arrogant on behalf
of one against the other. who regard you as superior.
And what do you have that you did not receive?
But if you did receive it, why do you boast as
if you had not received it? Let us, in verse
one, the two pictures of God's servants. He calls
us, first, the servants of Christ. The word servant.
here is a particular one. It is used only here
in all of Paul's writings. It is a word that
has a nautical origin. Some of you from your
ancient history will remember that the Phoenicians
were a very powerful seagoing nation. They developed
ships and among those were ships called the Byron,
Byrene. of the trireme. These were galleys that
were used for commerce, but even more often for
warfare. The trireme, for example, had three
banks of oarsmen. There was one on top, and another,
and then another. The lowest bank of oarsmen
were usually just the a few inches above the
waterline and right next to the hull. So in the
case of a ship being rammed, you can see that
their lives weren't worth much, and actually
that's why they were there. They were called
the under rowers. And all of the whatever that
would drip down from above would end up on them,
and that vulnerable and lost of all positions
on the triory. the word that Paul uses here.
He says, what are the other low words of Christ?
Now the word over the hundreds of years leading
up to the time of Paul came to have a broader
meaning and meant the one who is in a subordinate
position, the one who is an assistant. For example,
it is used with John Mark in Acts 13 where it
says regarding Paul and Barnabas, that they had
John as their helper. It's this word, John was
their assistant. It is used by Jesus of Paul
in Acts 26 where he says, I have appeared to
you to appoint you a minister and a witness.
The word minister there is the same word. Paul,
I am appointing you as my subordinate. I am appointing
you as my assistant by orderly, and is a witness
of the gospel. So Paul says if you want to think
of us, think of us first of all as those who
are the lowest of the low. As those of us who
are the under roars of a trireme, who are in
a subordinate position. That's what we are. We
are the servants of Christ. And then he says
we're also the stewards. of the mysteries of
God. A steward is not an unusual work for you.
Most of you know that a steward in those days
was the manager of a household. A wealthy patrician
would appoint a steward to care for all of his
affairs. This man would have no need of affording
him, would have prescribed limits, but within
those limits he could do what he wanted to do.
And ultimately the steward was accountable to
his employer. So Paul says if you want to think
of us, think of us as that way. Not as heroes,
but celebrities. But think of us as stewards.
That God is appointed over his deep truths. Those
things that the world cannot discover. Those
things that God has revealed to us. The mysteries
of God. Since we are the managers, we are the
stewards of those things, and to God we must
give an account. Now using these two terms, Paul
is telling us that serving as a Christian leader
is a privilege and a responsibility. It's a privilege
and a responsibility. So I ask the question today,
when one is in a place of leadership, what makes
for success? As we said, I don't know the key
to success, but the key to failure is trying
to please everybody. Some wise words spoken there.
But what I want to find out from God's word is
what makes for success. I believe that what we're
going to discover here applies to any position
of influence and authority that any person here
might have. And what we're going to see is that
success, true success, success is rooted in character.
What are the qualities of character that Paul
elaborates on here with regard to successful
leadership? I believe the first thing he says
is this, the Christian leader must personify
trust. Notice he says in verse 2, it is required
of stewards They'll want to be found trustworthy.
If you work for anybody, you are a steward. It
may be over police department. It may be over
the the secretarial pool in your office. You
may be a steward with regard to a sales district.
But if you work for somebody, something has been
committed to you. That's what you're being paid
for. But what it says here is that if we're Christians
and leaders, we must personify trust. It says
it is required that we be found faithful. Notice
that he doesn't say that sinlessness is required.
Thank God for that or none of us would ever be
successful in leadership. He does not say that
brilliance or ability or career He doesn't tell
us here the personality or eloquence is what
makes a successful leader. Not any of these things
can benefit a leader. Don't misunderstand me.
But they are not requisites. What is required
is faithfulness. That is what is sought after.
That is what is demanded. That one be found reliable
and agent. without many qualities and attributes
as a leader, but he cannot do without faithfulness
to his responsibilities. Of all of the amenities
of a leader that he can possess, none outweighs
the ten ability. One who is faithful is one who
sticks to a task. He is one who sees his duty
through to its outcome. He is one who keeps his
word whatever the cost to his own welfare. That
is a faithful man, a faithful woman. God requires
us to be faithful. He does not require us to
have certain talents. In the end, a person who
is an employer or who is a master, wants to know
that those in whom he has invested leadership
will be faithful, that it will be counted on.
I believe that we are in a crisis of trust in
our society. I believe that we are in a crisis
of trust with regards to personal relationships,
to marriage. crisis with regards to business,
to the media, to politics. Robert Hoover said
in an article in the New York Times, August 9,
1964, that there is a lack of honor in government.
The walls of the whole people are poisoned. I'll
read you a couple of quotes. In 1971, Mr. United
States Senator said, it is my personal feeling
that the legalization of abortion on demand is
not in accordance with the value of human life.
Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life,
even at its earliest stages, has certain rights
which must be recognized, the right to be born.
the same United States Senator, a few years later,
said this. Many of us oppose this legislation,
that is the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, and
believers should not pass in any form this measure
is the latest attack by some of our colleagues
in their continuing all -out assault against
a woman's constitutional right to choose whether
to continue her pregnancy. The same man. a senator
from Massachusetts, but I will not name. Listen
to this. I am opposed to abortion and to a government
ending of abortion, the statement of a governor
of Arkansas in 1986. Last year, with regard to
the partial birth abortion ban, he says, I have
always believed that the decision to have I have
always been He says that the decision to have
an abortion generally should be between a woman,
her doctor, her conscience, and her God, as he
betood that Bill protecting the life of babies.
We have a crisis of trust in our society, and
it's on all levels. We have media that demand
the right to publish whatever they want to publish.
The problem is... If we cannot trust what they
publish, should they have the right to publish
it? That has to be asked. Does the population
have to allow itself to be lied to? What can
we say about business? and shady feelings that
are going on at all levels of business. I'm not
saying everybody's dishonest. Please don't misunderstand
me. But I think most of us are aware today that
in our society we have a crisis of truthfulness.
And what the American people are longing for
are people who will simply tell them what they
really believe and who will act. me that honors
truthfulness. You may not get the promotion that
you would like to get because you are an honest
and truthful, trustworthy person. That doesn't
mean that you're not successful. Success may
be not getting that promotion. Yet, in getting
it, you have to compromise your character. of
the bank to eat, and a little denounced to him,
the president of the bank was behind him in the
line and saw this employee take two pats of butter
and hide it under his bread. So he wouldn't have
to pay for two pats of butter. You know what,
the president of the bank noted that act of dishonesty
that cost him his promotion. That's any sense
of weather. The man did not get what he was longing
for. People are looking for trustworthiness in
leadership. And so my point is, determine in
your heart to be a person worthy of the trust
of others. I love that song, and I think we've
even had it sung here a number of times. May
all who come behind us, find us one. Faithful.
can be depended upon. It is required in a Christian
leader that he be found faked. There's a second
character quality that I see in verses three
through five. Was he here that a Christian leader
must practice integrity? Paul's conscience was
clear. He did not know anything against him.
You know that conscience within us is what is
the echo, the inner echo of our value system.
Like a radio it can be, it can get on the wrong
channel, or it can even be turned off. But inside
there, God has built within us that the echo
changed our own value system. So what I said,
the conscience is what makes the little boy tell
his mother before his sister does. ever done.
His conscience testified that he was a man of
integrity, but apparently Paul was being criticized
and accused of something. That's what the language
here indicates. No one would expect that because
Paul was a leader. Richard Nixon, in their view
in 1978, said, if any individual wants to be
a leader and isn't controversial, that means
he never stood for it. and apparently there were
those who were stirring up accusations about
him, but Paul says, my conscience is clear, that
the examination was not of concern to them. And
in fact, he says here in verse 3 that there are
three exams that really don't count at all. against
myself, yet I am not by this acquitted." Notice
the genuine devoutness there. He deferred all
examination and all judgment of his methods and
his motives to the future coming of Christ in
verse 5. He says, that is the examination when
Jesus comes. That is the examination I want to
pass. He says, because then... is unknown to
be eliminated. The things hidden in darkness,
the moments of my heart, all of those things
are going to be on the table for all to see.
But that is true of all of us. Some of us get
very hyper about what others might think of us.
And of course, there is a sense in which that's
appropriate. But the ultimate exams ought to
give us pause about what we're doing. There is
that encouragement at the end of verse 5 when
he says, then, each man's praise will come to
him from God. In other words, he suggests here
that in the end, God is the one who will bring
forth praise for each one. And he does say each
one. To some point here really is that we must
be very careful about... ourselves into the business
of trying to examine their motives. Jesus warned
us about that kind of judgment, that we ought
not to judge what we ourselves can judge. We
can't reload it. Actions we can see. And we can't
evaluate what they've got motives. But they've
given things. We have to be very careful about
that. What Paul is saying is here I am a person
of integrity as much as I know my heart. And
so I'm saying to you that a Christian leader
must practice integrity. A parent has set their
will to be a person who lives before God with
a clear conscience, a clear conscience. Oscar
Wilde was born in 1854 and died 46 years later.
I'm sorry to say, think of Irish. of his Irish
roots to write for Britain and all of the English
world. Some of the remarkable materials, including
plays, got reflections upon his time. Oscar Wilde
was a rather eccentric person, and married and
had two children, but in the end was gay. his
wife, and the way he lived it became an open
scandal in all of Victorian Britain. And in the
end, here's what he said, I let myself be lured
into long spells of senseless and sensual views.
Tired of being on the heights, I deliberately
went to the depths in search of new sensations.
I grew careless of the lives of others. I forgot
that every little action or unnamed character.
And therefore, what one has done in the secret
chamber, one has someday to cry aloud from the
housetop. I ceased to be lured over myself. I
was no longer the captain of my soul and did
not know it. I allowed pleasure to dominate me.
I ended in horrible disgrace. Do you find that
sad? If we want to avoid that kind of an ending,
it depends upon the level of decisions that we
make day by day. And whether we are better than
the women of integrity, they'll finally let me
say that a question later. all of those things.
Well, Paul's point is, which of those are estimated
with you? Well, let me ask, what do you have
that you did not receive? What do I have? I have
a position in life. I have a amount of money,
perhaps. I have... How can you be arrogant about
that? It's not your doing. But he says, why do
you boast as if you had not received these things?
This is about what we do in our society. You
see, if we want to be a successful leader in
the eyes of God, we must be people who possess
humility. Dr. Paul Ray said, if you want an extra
success, just have a message of greatness. Don't
look at the glaring vans of Broadway. Listen,
rather, for the trickle of water splashing into
a basin, while God incarnate in humility that
makes pain. So my point is, seek to lead a Christ
-filled life of balance, having a happy perspective
of who you are and yet regarding others as more
important than you. And I'll select what we do
as what we are. Success is rooted in character.
Helen Degan Douglas, in a speech at Marble College
in 1975, said, character isn't inherited. One
grows it daily by the way one thinks and acts.
out there in this broad wide expo. you wish.
If nothing you will today, ask Jesus Christ to
live your life. Right now it's meant to be. We're
not afraid that we might today walk as new people,
those who have been created in the image of Jesus
Christ, who are alive in Him, being forgiven
of all our sin, and being alive and being Yep.