Lesson 391 - Senior
Memory Verse
"It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (I Corinthians 4:2).
Cross References
I Stewardship
1. Stewards are required to be faithful and are accountable to God, [1CO:4:1-5]; [LUK:12:41-48]; [ROM:14:12]; [1TS:2:4]; [TIT:1:7-9]; [HEB:13:17].
2. Stewards are to fulfil their calling humbly no matter what the consequences in this present life may be, [1CO:4:6-21]; [JHN:16:33]; [ROM:12:3]; [1PE:4:10].
3. The call to stewardship is from God, and if answered willingly with wholehearted endeavour will bring eternal reward, [1CO:9:16-27]; [1PE:5:2].
II Ambassadorship
1. An ambassador for Christ must first be a "partaker of the fruits," a new creature in Christ, [2CO:5:17-20]; [EPH:6:20]; [2TM:2:6].
2. Christ suffered for our sins, [2CO:5:21]; [ISA:53:5]; [HEB:2:9]; [1PE:2:24]; [1PE:3:18].
3. Ambassadors for Christ are to be soul winners, [2CO:6:1-2]; [ACT:26:16-18]; [DAN:12:3]; [MAT:4:19].
4. Ambassadors are to live blameless lives even under severe tests, [2CO:6:3-10]; [2CO:4:1-2], [2CO:4:8-11]; [PHL:2:15]; [1TM:3:2-4].
Notes
Mystery of the Gospel
Paul the Apostle told Timothy, "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" [1TM:3:16]). These were truly profound words and this mystery has been confounding the wisest of earthly scholars down through the ages. But these profound truths need not remain a mystery to the honest heart. Jesus said to His disciples, "It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [the unbelievers] it is not given" [MAT:13:11]).
Paul explained this mystery to the Colossians, "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" [COL:1:26-27]). To have Christ in one's heart, to be born into the family of God and made a new creature in Christ Jesus, is truly a mystery to the unbelievers. To the believers this spiritual experience becomes the very turning point of their life and completely changes the eternal destiny of their soul.
Gospel Stewardship
Inasmuch as the miraculous transforming power of the Gospel of Christ coming into the human heart produces this most profound experience, what then would be the responsibility of one who is called to be a minister of this Gospel, or, as the text says, "stewards of the mysteries of God"? There can be no higher calling, no more profitable vocation, no greater responsibility than of stewardship in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Considering the importance of such a calling, is it any wonder that Paul says it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful? Upon his faithfulness to proclaim the truth under the anointing and unction of the Spirit, his fidelity in living a holy and consistent Christian life, hinges the destiny of human souls. It is his responsibility not only to tell people about Jesus and His power to save but also to be a living example of the transforming grace there is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Read [ROM:10:14].)
This stewardship is not a profession secured by educational study or college degree, but is a divine and holy calling. The true minister of the Gospel stands between the living and the dead as a representative of eternal, immortal, just, but merciful and ever-loving God. It is his responsibility to point men to Christ even if it may seem that he is only an unheeded voice in the wilderness. He is to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. To do this the minister must be "first partaker of the fruits," and he must demonstrate and prove that fact by his personal conduct, his holiness and godliness, his prayer life, and his unselfish service to God and man.
Stewards' Accountability
Because this calling of stewardship is of God, a minister is responsible directly to God. Paul says, "He that judgeth me is the Lord." However, this fact does not become a licence for a minister to lord it over God's heritage or to become a tyrant. Ministers are to walk humbly with God -" extremely so -" because they are the stewards of the mysteries of God, and God will hold them accountable for the administration of their office.
Paul also warns that being a minister of the Gospel places one in an extremely exposed position. He said, "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake." Because they were preaching this mystery, they would be often misunderstood and their motive misconstrued, and they would be subject to great persecution; but this was not to move them. They were to hold fast to the truth and walk humbly with their God.
What has been said here in regard to ministers of the Gospel, as being stewards, may be said of Christians. Every Christian has some gifts and some particular call to which God will hold him responsible to fulfil faithfully. "The gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
Jesus spoke a parable about giving talents to His own servants: "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability." The Lord knew the ability of each one and did not expect more from him than he was capable of doing. Two of these servants earnestly worked at their responsibility and doubled their talents; and when the Lord returned to reckon with them, the one outstanding commendation they received was that they had been faithful. One servant failed to gain anything with his talent, because he had buried it in the earth. He brought back the original talent all right; it was well preserved, but he had not worked to develop and increase it. The result was that this one talent was taken from him, and he was cast into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth [MAT:25:14-30]).
It is not optional whether a Christian work for the Lord: He is commanded to do so. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain."
Jesus is the greatest of all stewards and His example is the most outstanding. He is the chief Shepherd. He came not to build an empire of His own, but He was in complete submission to His heavenly Father. He said He came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. His concern was for the welfares of the people to whom He came to minister. He healed the sick; He bound up the broken-hearted; He loved the sinners and gave deliverance to the captive. He brought light to those in darkness, and finally laid down His own life for His sheep.
Ambassadors for Christ
The dictionary definition of an ambassador is: "A minister of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign, as the official representative of his own government or sovereign." An Ambassador is the highest official position any citizen can have in a foreign country; in fact he acts in the capacity of the highest official of his own government. Just so is every Christian. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." He becomes a new creation. He has a new citizenship. Heaven is his home. While he is here on earth he is but a pilgrim, a representative of his true Homeland, which is Heaven.
The Work of an Ambassador
To be a true ambassador for Christ one must first be reconciled to God by Jesus Christ; brought back into the favour and fellowship of God that was lost through sin. Being a new creature and having his citizenship in Heaven, his interest centres in things above; but while here on earth the true ambassador is not only to be a good representative of his own country, but also to be a worker together with Christ in winning souls for the heavenly Kingdom. He, as an ambassador, acts in behalf of God, beseeching men to be reconciled to God.
The Apostle Paul, as a good example of an ambassador, brings to bear the strongest possible reason for reconciliation. He said that Christ who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus Christ Himself became our Paschal Lamb; He became our substitute. On the cruel cross of Calvary He suffered and died, not for His own sins -" for He was the sinless Son of God -" but He took our sins upon Himself and paid the awful penalty in full.
The Apostle also sets the pattern as to when a sinner should be pressed to turn to this ever-loving Saviour; it is now, for "now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." He well knew that there is no promise for tomorrow.
What could be a higher calling than to spend the few years of time one has while on this earth as a true ambassador for God? What could be a more noble endeavour than to labour to win souls from the doom of a lost eternity and see them planted on the highway of holiness that leads to Heaven? Oh, that more people would answer the call to the highest of all callings! Jesus said: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest" [MAT:9:37-38]).
Questions
1. In what manner is a Christian a steward of God?
2. Why is it required of stewards that they be found faithful?
3. To whom are stewards accountable?
4. Name some talents that the Lord might use in our stewardship.
5. What did Paul mean when he said he became all things to all men?
6. Quote the definition of a Christian that is given in our text.
7. Explain how a Christian is likened to an ambassador.
8. By what means can a sinner become reconciled to God?
9. When is the proper time to get salvation?