Choosing Well: The Keys to Good StewardshipSample

The Foundation of Our Rewards

It seems some people in the church of Corinth wanted to follow Paul, while others found him lacking and wanted to follow Apollos. Paul weighs in but does not really defend himself. He shrugs off both praise and criticism and encourages the Corinthian believers to follow Christ.

Why? Because the foundation of our faith is none other than Jesus Christ. Paul had a role in the body of Christ, as did Apollos. That role was to build upon the foundation that is Jesus. Paul admonishes all followers of Jesus to choose a new perspective — that we are all called to build upon that Foundation.

Paul was not so concerned about how he might be compared with Apollos or judged by people. He was concerned about how he would be judged by Jesus in the day of judgment, the day when all believers’ works are judged, to see what rewards will be given.

Paul asks the believers in Corinth to shift their perspective from worrying about what human “tribe” to belong to and start focusing on how they are building. In the process, he exhorts us as well.

Something similar happened when Joshua encountered a man near Jericho. He asked him: “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man answered: “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.” The only side we should pick is the Lord’s side. What is important to Him is of utmost importance and we should have it in the highest regard.

Paul advocates placing everything we do into an eternal perspective. We can listen to others to gain insight and wisdom, but at the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is that of Jesus Christ, the true foundation upon which we are building.

We choose well when through active obedience we build with materials that last. God will reward us as good stewards with the gifts of His Kingdom.

Lord, please, give us an understanding of Your perspective. It is so easy to do things according to human likes or dislikes rather than Your criteria. Make it obvious to us, so that we may choose well and not get lost in the noise of the culture or the hustle of our Christian world. We desire to be effective servants of Yours and receive the rewards You have in store for us.