Stewards of the Mysteries of God

PAUL EXHORTS THAT WE properly esteem servants of Christ. In our Key Verses, he includes himself among the ministers and stewards of divine grace who are faithful in the discharge of their duty.

The apostle continues by reminding the brethren at Corinth that the Lord is the ultimate judge of his stewardship. “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”—I Cor. 4:3-5

Concerning our privileges and responsibilities as “stewards of the mysteries of God,” in the parable of the pounds, Jesus likens himself to a “nobleman,” and delivers to his servants the “pounds.” He then departs but returns at a later time when there is a reckoning based upon the use the stewards have made of that which was entrusted to them. (Luke 19:11-27) The lesson seems to be that throughout the Gospel Age, as “ministers of Christ,” we are “stewards” of God’s glorious plan contained in his Word, the Bible. Thus, the “pound” refers to the Truth as revealed to us by God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus also identifies these, using the expression, “mysteries of the kingdom of God.”—Luke 8:10

From the foregoing, it appears the pounds represent something which is actually furnished by our Master to his people. First, we were drawn to the Lord and to the point of full consecration by the power of the Truth. After making a full commitment to do God’s will, we are spirit begotten. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit which, in particular, authorizes us to be partners in the work of the Lord and in the stewardship of his goods. To assure us that our labors would be acceptable, despite the imperfections of our flesh, we also received the robe of Christ’s righteousness for our justification.—John 14:6; Isa. 61:10

It is through the proclamation of the Truth that God’s will is accomplished in the earth. Paul wrote, concerning this matter and our part in it: “All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then [because of this] we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”—II Cor. 5:18-20

The stewardship of Jesus’ followers is through the knowledge of the Lord. We receive this knowledge through the revealing power of the Holy Spirit. This is why the expression, “Spirit of truth,” is used by Jesus in promising the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. (John 16:13) How comprehensive the divine overruling is which ensures that God’s purposes will be accomplished exactly as they are designed!