1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP) Servants of Christ 4 So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal]. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.

1. CON FORM ITY
f)aul is cautioning the Colossians not to stray from the gospel o[ freedom in Christand
I not to listen to those who would submit them to the restraints of man-made religious
rules. For example, Paul warns against asceticism (see Col 2221), arenunciation of the ma-
terial world that denies the body'and holds that bodily pleasure is a source of sin.
For Christians toda6 as in i,aul's day, the issue is complex. How does one live in the
world and properly stbward physical pleasures? The culture in the current'Western world
tends more toward hedonism rather than asceticism. Hedonism is the philosophy that
people should deny themselves nothing because the material world is all there is.
The answer for Chrisiians is balance. Neither extreme is acceptable nor Biblical. [e
can enjoy the good gifts of God, but we are to use them in ways that glorify God and that
conform to Jesus?'commands to love others and ourselves. But what does that look like,
practically speaking? Determining where to draw the line between the righteous or. oi
God's good gifts and greedy oveiindulgence can be difficult and is, ultimately, a matter of
conscience. Too much of our perverted use of food, drink, sex, leisure, hobbies or anything
can lead us into sin, harm our bodies and obscure our sense of the presence of God. Theri ,
are good reasons to prayerfully discipline ourselves and limit oor.onsrrmption of resourcgs;
For our physical and spiritual growth, for the good of the kingdom of God, and fpr the
benefit of others, it's often advantageous to call enough, enough. Rr,o*i.rg *h.n to do so ii
an act of freedom !q Qhrist. RJformer John Calvin (7509-ti64) sqggesti the iolowiig.i'',.".
Let this be our principle: that the use of God's gifts is not wrongly directed when ir.
is referred to,that end to which the Author himself created and destined them,.fot.
since he created them for ogr good, not for our ruin.
.Accordingly, no one will hold to a straighter path than
he who diligently looks to this end. Now if we ponder to
what end God,created food, we shall find that he meant
not only to provide for necessity but also for delight and
good cheer. Thus thb purppse of clothing, apart from
necessity, was comelinJss and decency. L !iar..r, t.ee.,
and fruits, apart from their various uses, there is beauty
of appearance and pleasantness of odor (Ge 2:9). For if
this were hot true, the piophet would not have reckoned
them among the benefits of God, "[wine that gladdens
the heart of man, oil toiirake his face shine]" (Ps 104:15).
Scripture'would not hive reminded us repearedly in
commending his kindness, that he gave all such things
to men. And the natural qualities themselves.of things
demonstrate suffic,iently,to what end and intent we may
enjoy thern ... What?,Did he not so distinguish colors as
to make some more lovely than others? Vhat? Did he not
.endow gold and,silver, ivory and marble, with a loveli-
ness that renders theln more precious than bther-tnetals
or stones? Did he not, in short, render many things at-
tractive to us, apart from their necessary use?
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