Day 58
Today’s reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21
Stewardship
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Stewardship 〰️
Reflections
Who is a steward? The PLGNT describes a steward as “commonly a superior slave of tried character, who looked after the accounts of a household.” The Bible repeatedly refers to us as stewards, meaning we are merely managers of what belongs to someone else—we do not own it. This also implies that we have a Master who owns all that we oversee and to whom we must one day give an account.
Whatever your calling on earth may be, you must learn to see it through the lens of stewardship, because that is exactly what it is. You have only been entrusted with it for a time—you are not the master. As a doctor, God has made you a steward of healing. As an educator, you are a steward of knowledge in His children. As an evangelist, you are a steward of His gospel. As a shepherd, you are a steward of His flock. As an Apostle, you are a steward of His mysteries.
Since we do not own any of these gifts or roles, we have no grounds for boasting—not in our positions, nor in the knowledge or skills that got us there. So, how do we maximize what has been entrusted to us? It is not ours to use as we please or to rule over as masters. When we stand before our Master again, we must give an account of all we have been given to steward—our time, talents, and treasures.
Study Questions
Conduct a word study on “oikonomos”. Did you discover anything new about its meaning and usage?
In verses 1-2, Paul describes himself and other apostles as stewards of the mysteries of God. What does this phrase mean, and how does Paul, as an apostle, fulfill this role?
How does Paul’s reproof on stewardship in this chapter connect to the themes and issues he has addressed in the first few chapters?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV
