1 Corinthians 4:1 “Let a man so [account] of us, as of the [ministers] of Christ, and [stewards] of the [mysteries] of God.” Commentary: Let us look at these four bracketed words in the scripture above. The first word is account. It is derived from the Greek word ‘Logos’. It means the Word of God! Are you an accountant? Do you use your mental calculator? Can we do the math? Jesus said count the cost to follow me! Some begin with Jesus like Judas but sell out for the cost is too great for them! The word means to count something preferable to be answered to! It also means to be applied in a substitutional manner! The work of Christ in you on the earth! Accounted to or responsible to God to promote the Gospel! The second word is ‘minister’. The word means to be a subordinate servant to a superior! A subordinate official means to wait to perform the duties of a superior! This is where so many ministries go wrong! Many do not want to submit to authority! They do not want to be under the authority of another! You know the old saying in the military? You can never be in authority unless you are under authority! Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist! Jesus never went out and did his own thing! I do the will of my Father! Not my will but thy will be done! Are you under authority? Is you church leader under authority? Or are you the Lone Ranger without the Redskin? Did your Pastor get authority approval to buy the ten million dollar mansion or the sixty million dollar jet? Is your Pastor under the authority of another human being? True ministry is under authority! Authority of God and man! Did you get approval from your pastor to run off and start a ministry somewhere? Are you covered by his prayers? The next word is steward. It means to manage the affairs of another! Judas was in charge of the money! It means to manage the affairs of your family! The church! The Body of Christ! To manage the Gospel in a spiritual dispensation! If a revival would break out across your nation would you have the skills to manage it? Do you have problems managing your own life? If you cannot manage a small group then how could you manage bigger things? It still amazes me how Pastor Cho in Korea managed the largest church in the world through small group ministries? It is certainly a mystery which is our last word study in this scripture verse! Mysteries are the hidden revelations of God revealed at the proper time and place! We have the Book of Revelation! They are revealed to those that are submitted under the authority of God! They can be anyone who is submitted to God and his Christ! Any mystery is outlined in your Bible! For example plagues or pandemics! Many scriptures on this topic including what Jesus said about them! The judgment by them and the deliverance from them! Mysteries are disclosed and divinely revealed and validated by historical events! The birth of Jesus! His resurrection! His ascension! His second coming! The events around these events! Signs! Wonders! End time events! The nature of God is revealed through scripture! His love and his judgment executed on all! Mysteries are revealed through his miracles! If you can figure it out it is probably not from God! Without faith it is impossible to please God! The world says seeing is believing but God says believe first and then you will see! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com