Continuing with 1Corinthians 4 verse 2's "it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful." [faithful, trustworthy and mature in the LORD, Christ]. I mean to be found "faithful," is as we saw in the last post means "fidelity." Using the Strong's Greek G4103, in its root G3982: one who agrees, made a friend, and in the Thayer's Dictionary using the Strong's numbers we find this: "in the NT one who trusts in God’s promises, one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation"
Our next topic is "honesty," for it is the LORD Who judges a steward. A stewards being justified by GOD, this is what verse 4 here states.
Honesty, enjoined, enforcement, directed by,
Leviticus 19:35-37 "You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah (bushel), and a just hin (gallon): I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt. And you shall observe all My statutes and all My rules, and do them: I am the LORD."
Deuteronomy 25:13-16 "You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the LORD your God."
Proverbs 11:1-9 "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered."
Romans 12:14-21 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves (in Proverbs 20:22, 24:29), but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written (in Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalm 94:1), "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary (in 2Kings 6:22, Proverbs 25:21f), "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 13:8-10 with 2Corinthians 8:21 and Philippians 4:8 "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (something received, the course and path of life, a state provided by GOD*). For the commandments (of the Pentateuch), "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (the law demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, especially the precept concerning love) Love does no wrong [works no evil] to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law*."
2Corinthians 8:16-24 "Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the LORD Himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the LORD's sight but also in the sight of man. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, in the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men."
Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be within you."
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