The Stewardship of the Gospel

ACTS 8:4-8

NO TRUTH concerning the Christian is stated more definitely in the Scriptures, nor exemplified more clearly by the attitude of the brethren in’ the Early Church, than the fact that the Lord wants the followers of Jesus to lay down their lives in making known the glad tidings of the kingdom. Dying with Christ is done on the battlefield of service—serving the Lord, serving the brethren, and bearing witness to the truth.

Brethren in the Early Church would not have been persecuted by the enemies of the truth had they not let their light shine and thus attracted attention to themselves. And despite the fact that they were persecuted; and as a result of persecution, “scattered abroad,” they “went everywhere preaching the Gospel.” Brethren less determined to be faithful unto death, and looking for an excuse to take life easy, under such circumstances would probably have concluded that the “providences of the Lord” were indicating that they should withhold the Gospel, thus hiding their light under a bushel.

The lesson here for us is that opposition to the truth and difficulties encountered in our efforts to proclaim it, are not bona fide reasons for slackening our hands in the proclamation of the message. It is so easy to listen to the reasonings of the flesh and conclude that because the way is difficult, because responsibilities and weariness are involved, the Lord does not want us to continue. It is always well to remember, however, that there is only one way of showing ourselves true followers of the Lord, and faithful stewards of the Gospel message, and that is actually to lay down our lives in the service of the truth.

II CORINTHIANS 5:17-20

For those who become new creatures in Christ “all things are become new,” writes the apostle, and these “all things,” he explains, “are of God.” In further explanation, the apostle writes that God has given unto us the “ministry of reconciliation,” First we are reconciled to God through Christ, and then appointed by the Lord to serve as Christ’s ambassadors.

And what does this ambassadorship imply? Paul’s explanation is that God was in Christ reconciling the world—that is, all mankind—to himself, and has given to us this ministry of reconciliation by serving as ambassadors of Christ. This work of reconciliation is accomplished through the “Word” of reconciliation, so it is obvious that the Word needs to be proclaimed. If we allow the Word of reconciliation to lie dormant in our hearts it will not effect the reconciliation of others. Thus our stewardship of the Gospel calls for faithfulness in proclaiming the Gospel.

God was in Christ reconciling “the world,” Paul states. This was the purpose of sending Christ into the world. We know, of course, that the time when all mankind will be enlightened concerning Christ and given a full opportunity to be reconciled to God, will be during the mediatorial reign of Christ; but this does not preclude our privilege of now proving our faithfulness to the Lord by proclaiming the Word of reconciliation to those who have a hearing ear. The only ones who will be reconciled to God during this age are those whom he calls; but we do not know who these are, so there is laid upon us the necessity of sowing the seeds of truth beside all waters, knowing that the Lord will give the increase according to the good pleasure of his will.

In the first verse of chapter six the apostle states that we are “workers together” with the Lord, and he is speaking of the same work; namely, that of reconciling the world to God. What a high honor has been bestowed upon us! We can render acceptable service only through the grace of God as manifested through the merit of Jesus, which justifies us. Let us, then, as Paul beseeches us, see to it by our faithfulness that we do not receive this grace in vain.

PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18

OUR stewardship of the Gospel does not depend upon human leadership, as much as we should appreciate those whom the Lord has specially used in the service of his people. This is clearly demonstrated in Paul’s testimony to the Philippian brethren concerning the increase of the Gospel which resulted from his imprisonment in Rome. The Philippian church held the apostle in high esteem. He was the one who organized this ecclesia, and it would be but natural that the spiritual lives of these brethren would be entwined very closely with his. They could not be blamed, therefore, if, when they learned that he had been imprisoned, they concluded that the Gospel work was finished.

Paul sensed that possibly the brethren at Philippi might take this attitude, so he wrote: “I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel.” What a noble and unselfish attitude was thus taken by Paul! He did not as much as hint that because he could not serve as widely as before, the Gospel message would be restricted, but was glad to assure the brethren at Philippi that the opposite was true.

It was with a similar thought in mind that he wrote to Timothy, also from Rome, that “the Word of God is not bound.” (II Tim. 2:9) God may permit his servants to be imprisoned, but his Word of reconciliation continues to reach those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. In this there is a timely lesson for us at this end of the age. In the Lord’s providence, he permitted “that servant” to be removed from the scene, but his truth has continued to go out, reaching and blessing many. Thus it is that God’s servants are removed, but his service continues.

In Paul’s further explanation of the manner in which the Gospel was being more widely proclaimed than ever, he says that some were preaching Christ through envy and strife, thinking thus to add to his bonds. It is not too clear just how Paul’s enemies thought their preaching the Gospel would add to his bonds, but Paul’s reaction to their efforts is the important lesson for us. He explained that he rejoiced in the fact that the Gospel was being preached, even though some had a selfish motive in doing so.

Paul was “set for the defense of the Gospel,” and not only used faithfully all his own opportunities to proclaim it, but rejoiced in every evidence that others had become sufficiently inspired by the message that they too were faithful in holding forth the Word of Life. Neither time nor circumstances should be permitted to deter us from being faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, and today, as never before, it is the privilege of the Lord’s people to tell the whole world the blessed tidings of the kingdom of Christ and the glorious fact that the blessings of the kingdom will soon become available to all who will “hear that prophet.”

QUESTIONS

How can a follower of Christ suffer and die with him?

What was it that caused the Early Church to be persecuted?

What are the “all things” which to new creatures in Christ become new?

In what sense do we serve as ambassadors for Christ?

Are we to expect that the world will now listen to the Gospel and respond in obedience to it?

What is the grace of God which enables us to be acceptable “workers together with him”?

Does our stewardship of the Gospel depend upon human leadership?

How did the Apostle Paul manifest his unselfish interest in the spread of the Gospel?

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