WISDOM FOR FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP

"Moreover it is required in STEWARDS that one be found FAITHFUL” – 1 Corinthians 4:2

God’s Word provides ample WISDOM for FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP: “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” (1Cor.4: 1-2). Like Paul and Apollos, believers are called to be “stewards of the mysteries of God.” A steward is a person who manages another's property or financial affairs like an agent. Biblical stewardship means being a caretaker of an aspect or the other of God’s Kingdom: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as GOOD STEWARDS of the manifold grace of God” (1Pet.4:10). The faithfulness required of us is our proper response to God’s Faithfulness.

To be faithful is to be dependable, reliable, and unswerving in loyalty to God at any cost. Christians as stewards should be found faithful at dispensing God’s mysteries for others to understand. A minister of Christ is entrusted with God’s revealed mysteries, valuable truths that are only found in the revelation of His Word. Ministers are responsible to dispense these remarkable truths to transform lives. These truths lie beyond all secular research and opinion polls; they are inaccessible to natural reason or observation. When understood, these mysteries undergird the fulfilment of God's purposes in our lives.

Mark 4:11 speaks of the “mystery of the kingdom of God”, which is an understanding of God at work in history; how He is working through the events of our day and of the past days; and how he uses these events to effect His purposes. Second, is the “mystery of iniquity” (2The. 2:7). The secret of lawlessness explains why humanity is handicapped in making sustained progress when it comes to solving her dilemmas; why every generation without exception repeats the struggle, problems and difficulties of the previous ones. Third, is the counteraction to that – the mystery of godliness (1 Tim.3:16). This is the amazing secret by which a Christian is enabled to live right in the midst of the pressures of the world with all of its illusion and danger, and refuse to conform to it: the secret of an imparted life – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27b).

Christ in us – His Life, Wisdom, Strength, and Power to act – enables us to perform what we naturally cannot! The mystery of godliness is the most life-transforming doctrine that has ever been set before humanity, radical in its effect. Fourth is the mystery of the church (Eph. 3:1-6). The Church is the new spiritual Organism that God is building to demonstrate a totally different life style before a watching world, repel the world’s corruptive influence, and impact the world around to change it.

Beloved, the Lord Jesus calls us to be humble servants and faithful stewards. In the world, everyone wants to be a star; no one wants to be a servant. Servants don’t march to their own drumbeat. As servants of Jesus Christ we do not live our lives our way, but God’s way! The steward manages everything for his master, ready to give an account when he returns. The steward is held responsible. Our abilities, assets, gifts, opportunities, potential, and talents do not belong to us, but to Jesus. We are stewards of life, time, talents, treasures, family, and influence. As stewards, it’s not our place to judge others (vv.3-5). He who judges is the Lord. Only God knows what is in a person’s heart and He is the only one who has the right to judge.

As God’s stewards, we shouldn’t live our lives for the opinion of others. Ultimately, there is only one opinion that matters. It is not the court of public opinion, or even our own personal opinion, but we answer to God; hence, we shouldn’t be “puffed up,” competitive or prideful (vv.6-7). The bible is our final authority. Stewardship is about responsibility and faithfulness to the requirements of God’s Word. Whatever our stage of life and wherever we serve, we must keep the future, final judgement in mind. We want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Mt.25: 21,23).