It is required of stewards that they be found faithful. – 1 Corinthians 4:2
After focusing on the Lord, His immutable Word, His steadfastness, and His faithfulness to you, today the focus is on you and your faithfulness to God. The apostle Paul addresses the “stewards” which some may simply define as those who teach and preach the Word of God. However, each and every believer has been given a sphere of influence – they all have an area of their own to minister in and to “steward.”
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addresses the fact that, regardless of who ministered to the people, they were all servants of Christ sent to deliver the Gospel with truth and faithfulness. Through Jesus Christ, God had revealed divine mysteries that Old Testament prophets could speak of but not truly understand. The first preachers in the Church were at last privileged to understand the mystery of Christ as a suffering servant, as well as Christ the reigning Messiah. He had taken on the sins of the world, died as a substitute for each person’s sins, but had risen from the dead with victory over death for all those who believe (2 Corinthians 5:13-19).
In the current climate of political correctness, where people are easily offended, followers of Christ may be tempted to water down His message. Ask the Lord to give you the courage and strength to be a faithful steward of His redemption story, providing a witness and testimony of the whole truth of God’s message to humanity. And study His Word so you may accurately share it with others.
Pray that God’s truth would reign in all arenas – at work, in church, at school, and in government – and that His people would faithfully represent Him.
Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Ephesians 3:1-12, 20-21
3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
