FollowWhat is The Focus of Faithful Ministry?
© 2026 by C. O. Bishop
1st Corinthians 4:2
Moreover, brethren, it is required among stewards, that a man be found faithful.
2nd Corinthians 4:1-7
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Introduction:
Recently, we saw, in 2nd Corinthians 3:6, that we are “ministers of the New Testament.” The idea is that we serve the New Covenant. We deal in the Good News of the Sacrificial Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But we are Not promoting a list of rules by which one may try (and fail) to please a Holy God.
We preach the Gospel of Christ, which God says is His power to save all those who believe it. He receives all those who come to Him by faith.
So, we ought to consider, “God has made me an Ambassador of Christ, and a minister of the New Testament. How does He want me to act upon that responsibility?
The word “minister” simply means “servant.” In western culture, we have elevated that word to mean a high office. Minister of the interior, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, etc. But it literally means a servant.
Each of us has been given a stewardship of some sort: There are people within your sphere of influence or even just social contacts, to whom you may be the only source of God’s light in their world. The question then becomes, how are you shining that light for them?
We talked last week about how Moses’s face glowed when he “had been with Jesus.” Also, we saw that the disciples’ lives and speech radiated the fact that they “had been with Jesus.” We talked about the New Testament “shine” that is our task in the world. And, a long time ago, we remembered how God gave Gideon’s Army three tasks:
- Stand
- Shine a light
- Sound an alarm…sound the warning.
We see that God has given us the same three tasks. We have a stewardship to fulfil.
Stewardship Requires Faithfulness
1st Corinthians 4:2
“Moreover, brethren, it is required among stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
What is Faithfulness?
In some contexts, the word “faithful” just means the believers: it is describing those who have placed their faith in Jesus as their Savior. But, in the context of behavior, it means “reliability:” It means that you can be counted on to actually do what your job entails. It means that you do not just “talk a good fight.”
If the job assigned to a steward is to “walk through a factory and count all their inventory,” then, regardless of how boring and pointless it may seem, an accurate, complete count of everything on the list is absolutely essential to faithfulness. Estimates are not acceptable. (How many gallons of what color of paint? How many cases of toilet paper? Etc.)
If the job to which we are assigned is to “walk worthy of the calling to which you are called,” it means day-by-day walking with Jesus, and responding to the people around you with the Love of Christ. It means fulfilling whatever physical responsibilities you have accepted or have been assigned. We can read about that part of the assignment in Ephesians 4:1-3.
But, if the job is the Great Commission, (and it is) then we need to think about how we can further that task. I may or may not be able to do certain jobs. I will never be a bush pilot, so I will not be taking missionaries into jungle airstrips. However, I can support those missionaries, though, and look for ways to further the job of the Great Commission. Also, I can encourage those around me and help them to focus on the job, too. That is all part of faithfulness.
So, Then, What IS Faithful Ministry?
Paul introduced the idea in 2nd Corinthians 4:1-2
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Notice that the first thing Paul says, is that because we have received this ministry (and we have) then, as we have also received the mercy of God that goes along with the job, we do not “faint.” We do not succumb to discouragement.
Yes, we experience discouragement; from the World, from our own sin nature (the Flesh) and from our immortal enemy, the Devil. But we press on, regardless. That is the first element of what we call faithfulness: Don’t quit! Choose to keep on doing what God has assigned to you!
But Look At What Else God Says: (verse 2)
- Renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty
- Not walking in Craftiness
- Not handling the Word of God deceitfully
- Manifesting (“making known”) the Truth
The result is that we (as faithful ministers of the Grace of God) find ourselves commended unto the conscience of other people, and before God.
We seek to handle God’s Word faithfully, not feeling that we have to make everything easily understandable in natural terms: We are dealing specifically with the Supernatural, by definition. Time, space, and physical “laws” do not limit God. He is the Author of all things. He can “change the Game” when He chooses to do so. And, only the limits of His own perfect character bind Him in any way.
We are required to say, “I don’t know,” when we don’t know, rather than struggle to come up with an acceptable, palatable explanation. Any other behavior is dishonest. If we try to show that we know it all, and are conscious that we are deliberately giving an answer contrary to the Spirit of God, it is Craftiness, as the actions of Satan are described. None of us wants to be guilty of that! We devote ourselves to Not handling the Word of God deceitfully, by using “out-of-context proof-texts.” We allow God’s Word to comment on itself, as the most accurate commentary.
In all things, we strive to make known the Truth. (Manifesting the Truth) Not only the general truths of what God’s Word actually says, but also the TRUTH. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Are we seeking to make Him known? That is the central issue in faithfulness as His servants, His Stewards, His Ambassadors.
What is the Result, and Why?
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
There will be those for whom the Gospel remains hidden, even when we attempt to explain it to them. All the world is lost, but some are more open to the truth of God. Some, by choice, are not. They reject all accountability to a Sovereign, Holy God. They insist that they, themselves, are the standard of truth and righteousness. Romans 1:22 says, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” As a result, they have allowed themselves to be blinded to the truth of God’s Word.
Not Just Israel
God specifically addressed the nation of Israel (Romans 11:25) as having become blind to His truth, and says that the day will come when the few who are left will universally see Him as their Savior and Messiah.
But the principle applies to Gentiles, as well: If I had continued to reject the Gospel, there would have come a time when I was blind to it and could no longer make a reasonable decision. I have encountered more than one person who clearly stated that, even if they could absolutely prove that all of the Bible was true, they still would reject it. They do not want to know the God of the Bible, and resent the implication that they need a Savior.
Verse 4 makes it clear that “the god of this world (implying Satan) has blinded their eyes.” And that his underlying purpose is that they will not receive the “light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” Satan’s goal is to prevent the light of the Gospel fromshining for them.
How Do We Pursue the Good Result of the Gospel?
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake
The first point Paul makes is that the Gospel is “not about us:” We do not advance our cause, or our message, but rather the cause and message and Person of Christ… Jesus… The Lord!
We do not present ourselves as anything special: Only as servants…both to the Lord Himself and to the people to whom we are reaching with His message. Paul says, “we are your servants for Jesus’s sake.”
Why Do We Present Ourselves In That Way?
Because the light of God has already shined in our own hearts, and it compels us to reach to others with that same offer.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
His light begins our living relationship with Jesus. It opens our hearts to the knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus.
We are living in a world full of deceit, and trickery, and broken promises. But, we offer a God of truth, and honesty: The One Who keeps His Promises to Eternity.
We have to allow Him to live in us in such a way that others see His character in us, and begin to hope that they, too, can know that God. Our lives are supposed to be a living example of His Love and Faithfulness.
Finally, What kind of People qualify as Servants?
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are just ordinary people: Clay pots, not fine china. But the key is our focus on the task, and our faithfulness toward completing that task.
The earthen vessels serve to accentuate the Holiness of the God who indwells us. The Excellence we want people to see is not our own, but that of Jesus, Himself.
Who qualifies? Those who have placed their faith in Jesus, and who choose to allow Him to live through them. Jesus said, “Apart from me ye can do nothing.” So, if I keep trying to please Him in my own strength, I am just spinning my wheels, and I am probably getting in the way of what He wants to accomplish.
The humility required to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding” is the backbone of Faithfulness. Embrace the Cross, and the Humility of servanthood. God will bless faithfulness and provide opportunities for service.
Lord Jesus, help Your Servants to focus on Your priorities, and to leave behind our old, selfish lives. Develop faithfulness in each of us, and draw us to follow as Your Disciples.