That One Be Found Faithful

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2) 

I was reminded of this passage and have been meditating on it the past few days.  I'm not sure what the Greek for "found" is but it got me thinking.  Something that is found is discovered or brought to light.  In regards to a person's faithfulness, it seems this could mean that this person's life could be looked back upon and a consistent pattern of obedience and holiness can be seen.  A faithful person has a track record of being consistently holy (righteous and without sin), blameless (without grounds to accuse or condemn because of wrong done), pure (without flaw), and obedient (choosing to do what is right in God's eyes whenever, however, and regardless if one feels like being obedient or not); it is embedded into their character.  

Being "found" could also be a sort of "happening upon" as if by accident.  The person who is found to be faithful is someone who will be faithful and will abide with and by integrity each and every moment of their lives no matter the circumstance.  If an outsider was to abruptly peer into the life of a faithful person (or even to enter into the same room as that person) they would see no signs of hypocrisy at any moment ever.  Regardless of the time of day, circumstances, company, etc. an outsider will see complete faithfulness and consistency.  Faithfulness is something that is proven over time; faithfulness is a pattern and habit that is formed by daily, moment by moment decisions of integrity and purity and obedience.  Integrity will choose to be obedient to God no matter who is (or is not) looking.  Integrity chooses to do the right thing because it honors God and brings Him glory--NOT because it pleases the people around them or because it makes that person feel good about himself.


As I read back further in chapter 13, the verses leading up to 4:2 are crucial to the believer's understanding of purity, faithfulness, and integrity.   

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.   Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Corinthians 3:16-23)

God is holy and because He dwells in His children they are to be holy too.  Verses 18-20 even address the thoughts of men; we might think we are being faithful, wise, etc. but God really knows our hearts and intentions.  We might think we are okay because on the outside we look like we are being faithful and pure but we know that if someone watched us when we were alone they would find out differently.  Well, God watches us when we think no one is looking!  He is always with us because His Spirit dwells within us!  I love the reminder "'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'"  We think we are wise because by the world's standards we might be wise or we might seem to be "good" and "holy" Christians.  But God sees through our hypocrisy; He knows when we are saying one thing but doing the opposite.  And because we think we are wise--which is futile and wrong thinking--Paul reminds us to not boast in men.  Ultimately, we must remember that we are Christ's and that we belong to the Father!  God knows whether or not we are faithful; it is Him who we are living for.  We do not live to impress others or to give them the impression that we are following God.  We live to follow and obey God.  And, as mentioned, we cannot boast in men or in ourselves when we seem to be faithful or obedient.  We MUST remember that any faithfulness or obedience found within us is a result of the working of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is growing and sanctifying us so that we will be taught how to be faithful and to make the right decisions; the Spirit is the One who is and who should receive credit for shaping us into men and women of integrity.

I love 4:1 in light of the previous verses and then 4:2.  Verse one says, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." (Followed by verse 2 again) "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

Believers are called to be holy because we are God's temple. (17b)  We are servants of Christ and stewards of the Gospel of God.  We have the opportunity to represent Christ to the world and to nonbelievers.  Because of this we need to be seen as Christ's--holy and blameless as He is--and, therefore, are REQUIRED to be found faithful.  It is not an option of whether or not we are going to be found faithful.  It is a requirement that we cannot get out of.  Faithfulness is part of the very character of Christ and, therefore, since His children are to reflect His character and since we are image bearers of Christ, we are to be faithful as well.  If we fail to be faithful we are failing to be obedient.  Praise the Lord for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness but we cannot abuse His grace and must choose to be obedient.

Well...I know that was sort of a lot but my thoughts just kept turning.  I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in me so that, as a steward of God and as a servant of Christ, I might be found faithful.  I pray I would be a woman of integrity and would be faithful to be obedient to Christ no matter the circumstance and regardless of whether or not I feel like being obedient at that moment.