Success & Faithfulness in Ministry

Today, Brother Mark Chen preached from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.

Intro
How does God define success? Through this sermon, you'll find out that God's definition of success does not equal to the world's definition. Rather, God's definition of success depends on how faithful His stewards are.

1. The office bearer is a servant and a steward of God
There are 2 prevailing wrong attitudes that people have towards office bearers. Firstly, they adore and idolize the minister. This is wrong because this shows that the people are worshipping the minister. Secondly, they disrespect the office bearers. Oftentimes, office bearers are looked down upon, cricticized, misjudged, etc. People say stuff like "they are not doing enough", "this minister's preaching is not good enough". And thus come to a conclusion that the office bearers are not faithful in their ministry. The office bearers are declared by the people as failures.
Note though, that that was people's and the world's definition of success and being faithful in ministry. Paul wanted the Corinthians to not exalt him, but neither to disrespect him. He wanted them to see office bearers as how God sees them. So how does God view the office bearers in the church? The office bearers are serving the flock of God, but they are God's servants and not the church's servants.
In v4, Paul mentions the words 'servants' and 'stewards'. 'Servant' is like an under-rower of the ship, meaning, one who rows the boat in the belly of the ship to keep the ship moving. This under-rower is acting under directions of the master pilot of the ship. Know what the characters in this short illustration represent? The ship represents the church, the under-rower represents the office bearers and the master pilot of the ship represents God. 'Steward' refers to someone who is entrusted with something. He is like the chief servant, master of all the servants in the household. The office bearers are like stewards, managing the household of God and the mysteries of God ("mysteries of God" = Word of God).

2. Servants & stewards are tested for faithfulnes
Many saints of old, like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc, would have been considered 'failures' according to the world's standards. However, in Heb 11:38, we read that the word isn't worthy of these people.
How faithful are we? We may be faithful in coming on time to church for worship, but we may not be faithful in worshipping God. We may be faithful in singing hymns and psalters, but we may not be faithful in praising God with our heart, soul and mind.
Mark Chen then gave a short story of a farmer who was looking for a hired hand to work for him. He finally found one and asked the person for his qualifications. The person replied saying that he can sleep when the wind blows. The farmer had no idea what the person was talking about, but being desperate, still hired him anyway. One night, a storm was brewing and snow was falling fast. The farmer decided to rouse the person he hired to help him gather in the cattle and the tools and machinery that were still out in the field. He called out to the person in vain, for the person was fast asleep in his bed. So, the grumbling farmer decided to take on the job himself. He ventured into the snow, went into the barn and in great surprise, found that the cattle were already safe in the barn, with new hay provided for them and the tools and machinery were stored away properly. The farmer then understood what the person he hired said earlier on - I can sleep when the wind blows.
Are we like this person in the story? Are we that faithful in our work? Are we responsible for whatever God has called us to do?