Let us be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God
Paul wrote: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is
required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1
Corinthians 4:1, 2).
What is a steward?
A steward is someone who has been entrusted with
the possessions or affairs of someone else with the
understanding that he is to care for them and manage
them responsibly.
A steward must be trustworthy.
Every position of responsibility involves stewardship.
How would you feel if someone gave you a briefcase
containing diamonds worth thousands of dollars, and
asked you to walk through the streets of a large city and
deliver them to another address?
Brother Gus Amssoms went to be with the Lord many
years ago. When he retired, after working for 45 years as
a laborer in Antwerp, he had not missed a single day of
work because of illness. He was a trustworthy man.
Antwerp, Belgium is the diamond-cutting capital of
the world. About 2000 gem-related offices are located in a
one-square-mile area near the central train station.
After Gus retired, he was given a part-time job as a
diamond courier. If you had been a tourist in Antwerp, you
might have seen an elderly workman with a gentle smile
walking through the narrow streets of Antwerp carrying an
old, worn-out briefcase. You would have never dreamed
that his briefcase contained diamonds worth thousands of
dollars. He did not have a gun or a bulletproof vest or an
armored vehicle. He had something that the diamond
merchants considered much safer and more secure. He
had a gentle, innocent appearance and he was a
completely dependable man.
As Christians, we must be faithful stewards of
something much more valuable than a briefcase full of
diamonds: the mysteries of God.
What are the mysteries of God?
The mysteries of God are truths known only by
revelation: “According to the revelation of the mystery
kept secret since the world began but now made manifest,
and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God,
for obedience to the faith” (Romans 16:25, 26).
The wonders and intricacies of life, prove the
existence of a Creator. But only through the Bible can we
know who this Creator is and what our relationship with
Him can be through His Son Jesus Christ.
A steward is answerable to his master.
Preachers and elders must remember that they, as
stewards, are answerable to God not to man. Paul wrote:
“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted
with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men,
but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did
we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for
covetousness - God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from
men, either from you or from others” (1 Thessalonians
2:4-6).
Unfaithful stewards will be punished by God.
The Lord was angry with the unfaithful prophets
under the old covenant: “‘I have heard what the prophets
have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, “I have
dreamed, I have dreamed!” How long will this be in the
heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are
prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make
My people forget My name by their dreams which
everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My
name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell
a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word
faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord.
‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a
hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore behold,
I am against the prophets,’ says the Lord, ‘who steal My
words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against
the prophets,’ says the Lord, ‘who use their tongues and
say, “He says.” Behold, I am against those who prophesy
false dreams,’ says the Lord, ‘and tell them, and cause My
people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I
did not send them or command them; therefore they shall
not profit this people at all,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah
23:25-32).
In our time as well, many falsely claim to be
prophets, leading people astray by the lies they speak in
the name of the Lord.
As stewards, we must speak God’s word faithfully.
All Christians must be good stewards of the grace of
God. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If
anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If
anyone ministers, let him do so as with the ability which
God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the
dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10, 11).
This great responsibility rests doubly on elders,
teachers and preachers because of their leadership
position.
“A bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God”
(Titus 1:7). An elder must hold “fast the faithful word as
he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound
doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict”
(Titus 1:9).
Peter wrote: “The elders who are among you I
exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that
will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is
among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but
willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being
lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to
the flock” (1 Peter 5:1-3). Elders are stewards of God, His
flock has been entrusted to their care.
Paul was entrusted with the gospel because God
considered him faithful: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord
who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12).
Paul mentions the faithfulness of several men with
whom he worked. He calls Epaphras “our dear fellow
servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf”
(Colossians 1:7). He refers to Tychicus as “a beloved
brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord”
and to Onesimus as “a faithful and beloved brother”
(Colossians 4:7-9). Peter refers to Silvanus as “our faithful
brother” (1 Peter 5:12). Let us follow their example, and
be faithful servants of Christ.
This solemn command, given by Paul to Timothy,
echoes through the ages: “I charge you therefore before
God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach
the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
The message must be faithfully passed on to following
generations of teachers.
As faithful stewards of the mysteries of God we must
pass the message on. Paul told Timothy: “You therefore,
my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And
the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able
to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1, 2).
What have we learned?
1. As stewards, we have been entrusted with the
mysteries of God, the good news of salvation by grace
through the sacrifice of Christ.
2. We are answerable to God and must speak His word
faithfully, striving to please God rather than men.
3. God will punish unfaithful stewards.
4. We must faithfully pass on the mysteries of God to the
next generation of faithful stewards.
“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his
master will make ruler over his household, to give them
their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant
whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Luke
12:42, 43). Amen.
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc.,
Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com