Please give an explanation of 1 Corinthians 4:5.
To get a proper understanding of that verse, let’s read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
The Apostle Paul addresses the problem of given undue esteem to the Lord’s servants. Paul had said in 1 Corinthians 3:5-6, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” A minister is actually a servant. Yet what a grand privilege it is to be a servant of the Most High God. A steward is actually a house servant…one who labors closely to his master. To be a true minister of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God requires faithfulness to our Lord.
Paul held himself accountable to his master, so he was not overly concerned with the opinion of others as to how he served the Lord. He understood quite well that “he that judgeth me is the Lord.” It was not that Paul had no regard for the good counsel of others, but as long as he understood that his labors were approved of the Lord, the thoughts of others could not dissuade him from his path of obedience to the Lord. Paul realized that he could not even properly judge his own self, so he simply left himself to be judged by the righteous judgment of God.
Now, let us consider 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” It is only God, the righteous Judge, who alone can truly search the heart, and “bring to light the hidden things of darkness.” It is the Lord who can determine the ‘ counsels of the heart.’ We do not have the ability to see the unseen. It is only the Lord who “looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Of course, this is speaking of those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” All believers shall appear at this judgment seat of Christ to have their works judged by the Lord. Notice that WE are not judged. It is our WORKS that are judged.
Before closing, let me emphasize that this does not mean that we cease to call out evil when we see it. We do not have the ability to judge or determine the motives of the heart, but we can recognize sin and disobedience in others…and we should address that. Galatians 6:1 tells us, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Here, we see that a brother or sister in Christ has been caught up in a fault, or sin. We determine that his/her path is outside of God’s will. We judge it to be wrong and in Christian love (and in dependence upon Christ) we move to help restore that person back to the Lord. (384.6)