We Are Called To Faithful Stewardship

1 Corinthians 4:1-4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and STEWARDS {oikonomos} of the MYSTERIES {mysterion} of God. 2 Moreover it is required in STEWARDS {oikonomos}, that A MAN BE FOUND FAITHFUL. 3 But 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. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but HE THAT JUDGETH ME IS THE LORD.

Word Study: A “STEWARD” , the Greek oikonomos, means “someone appointed or commissioned to manage household affairs”. The steward was appointed by the owner, the head of the house, or the proprietor to manage his affairs, to take care of receipts and expenditures, and to even pay other staff members.

The “steward” is accountable to the owner, and to no one else. The steward owns nothing, but manages what is entrusted to him for the owner. What Are God’s servants “stewards” of?

Word Study: God’s ministers are “STEWARDS “OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD”. What is a “MYSTERY” in the Scripture? This is the Greek mysterion, which means a divine truth somewhat hidden in ages past, but now revealed or exposed by the Holy Spirit of God. It is called “MYSTERIES” or “MYSTERIOUS” because it cannot be solved by human logic, human philosophy, or human wisdom. The “MYSTERIES” are the Kingdom principles …

The “MYSTERIES” can only be revealed to us when we give our lives to Jesus in salvation. The “Mysteries” belong to every follower of Christ.

Mark 4:11-12 KJV – {Jesus} said unto them, UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN TO KNOW THE MYSTERY {mystērion} OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD but unto THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

A lost person cannot understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Why? Because they will not come to Christ. Rejecting Christ, they “see but cannot perceive” and “hear but do not understand”. Jesus Christ is the “Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). If you reject Him, you reject the Key to the Mysteries. If you reject Him, you refuse the Key to Heaven.

What Are Some Of The “Mysteries” Of Our Faith

1 Mystery #1: Under the Old Covenant, it was commonly believed that only Israel would be the people of God. God did choose to reach out to the world through Israel. God told His people Israel:

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 NKJV – For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has CHOSEN YOU TO BE A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF, a SPECIAL TREASURE ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. 7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but BECAUSE THE LORD LOVES YOU, and because HE WOULD KEEP THE OATH WHICH HE SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God chose Israel because He chose Israel. God chose Israel because He keeps His promises. God chose Israel to be “a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). BUT God also told Israel that this was conditional. He told them “IF YOU WILL INDEED OBEY MY VOICE AND KEEP MY COVENANT”. God chose Israel to bring His written Word into the world.

But God did not just choose Israel. He chose Israel to be His Ambassador to the Gentiles.

God told His people:

Isaiah 49:6 … I will MAKE YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS, THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH TO THE END OF THE EARTH.

God never intended to save just one people. He saved Israel from Egypt to have Israel lead others to God their Savior. God said:

Isaiah 42:6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, A LIGHT FOR THE NATIONS

And again,

Psalm 98:2-3 The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH HAVE SEEN THE SALVATION OF OUR GOD

Sadly, Israel kept wandering away from God, and kept binding to the false gods of the Gentiles. Israel allowed the Gentiles and the Pharisees to lead them, rather than God.

Of God did not intend Israel to lead the Gentiles to Christ, then WHY was there a “Court of the Gentiles” in the Temple?

God never told Israel that they would be His only people. They ignored the Word of God, and focused on themselves. The Apostle wrote:

Ephesians 3:2-7 KJV – If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation HE MADE KNOWN UNTO ME THE MYSTERY {mystērion} ; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY {mystērion} OF CHRIST) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW REVEALED unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS AND OF THE SAME BODY, and PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST BY THE GOSPEL: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Being a Pharisee, Paul before he was born again considered the Gentiles as dogs, not worthy of God. But once saved God opened his eyes, and he understood the mystery. God saved Israel to use Israel to save the world. God saves us Gentiles to lead other Gentiles to Jesus. When Simeon saw the Baby Jesus, the Bible says:

Luke 2:28-32 NKJV – {Simeon} took {the baby Jesus} up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A LIGHT TO BRING REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And THE GLORY OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL.”

2 Mystery #2: Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit came and went. But under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit came to stay in the believer. This is only possible because of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

When King Saul refused to obey God the Bible says:

1 Samuel 16:13-14 NKJV – Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed {David} in the midst of his brothers; and THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14 But THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD DEPARTED FROM SAUL, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.

The Holy Spirit came on people for specific purposes – then left afterward. As the case of Samson:

Judges 14:6 NKJV – And the SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME MIGHTILY UPON HIM, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

When God foretold the coming of the New Covenant, He said that …“I will put MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES” (Ezekiel 36:27). When Jesus came, He told us:

John 14:16-17 NKJV – And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER— 17 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and WILL BE IN YOU.

Paul called this a mystery in

Colossians 1:25-27 NKJV – I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD, 26 THE MYSTERY {mystērion} which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but NOW HAS BEEN REVEALED TO HIS SAINTS. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY {mystērion} AMONG THE GENTILES: WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.

The Holy Spirit indwells every believer – whether Jew or Gentile – and represents Christ in us. The Old Covenant with its animal sacrifices could not permanently cover sin. The Blood of Jesus can, and does – to those who believe and receive Him.

3 Mystery #3: Under the Old Covenant, God walked among His people as a Spirit. Under the New Covenant, God became Man so that He might save us.

1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV – And without controversy great is the MYSTERY {mystērion} OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

There are a number of places in the Old Testament where God walked with man. He walked with Adam “in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). God spoke to Noah (Genesis 6:13) and told him to build an Ark to save mankind from Divine judgment. God came to Abram (Genesis 12:1), and called him to follow His will. In the Old Covenant God came to man as “The Angel of the Lord”, and made promises that only God could make (Genesis 16:10; 22:11; Exodus 3:2). In fact, the Bible tells us that when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush,

Exodus 3:2, 6 NKJV – … the ANGEL OF THE LORD appeared to {Moses} in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. … 6 Moreover He said, “I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for HE WAS AFRAID TO LOOK UPON GOD.

God appeared as a Spirit, an Angel of the Lord, to humans under the Old Covenant. But under the New Covenant:

John 1:14, 18 NKJV – And THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. … 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, HE HAS DECLARED HIM.

God became perfect Man through a virgin. The Holy Spirit moved on the womb of a willing woman, so that the “Seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) could crush the head of the serpent Satan. What a fantastic mystery this is!

God became Man, so that as Man He could make payment for our sins, sins we could not pay for. God became Man so that He could bring Man to God.

4 Mystery #4: Under the Old Covenant, the Resurrection and the Glorified Body were mysteries.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 NKJV – Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY {mystērion}: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament spoke of the resurrection of the righteous, as in …

Daniel 12:2 many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth SHALL AWAKE, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt

Job 19:25-26 For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

But the New Testament reveals the resurrection in much greater detail. The Apostle told the Roman Governor Felix:

Acts 26:22-23 NKJV – Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come– 23 THAT THE CHRIST WOULD SUFFER, that HE WOULD BE THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

When Jesus rose from the grave, His body – His glorified body – is a pattern that we all shall follow. The Apostle wrote:

1 John 3:2 NKJV – Beloved, NOW WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is.

We are not like Jesus now – but we will be. We will have a glorified body, just as Jesus does. Jesus is called “the FIRSTFRUITS of those WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Jesus is, we one day shall be. “Christ the FIRSTFRUITS, afterward THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING” (1 Corinthians 15:23).

We Are “STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES” – So Don’t Be Concerned With human Judgments

1 Corinthians 4:2-4 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But 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. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Paul said that – as a “STEWARD” of God’s mysteries, he didn’t worry about the judgment of the Corinthians, of the lost world, or even of himself. The world through social media tries to push falsehood in the name of being “progressive”. The steward knows that we need to be pleasing the Owner of the business.

1 God is the Owner of everything, even though the lost don’t understand this.

(Psalm 24:1 NKJV) The EARTH IS THE LORD’s, and ALL ITS FULLNESS, THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO DWELL THEREIN.

God owns everything and everybody. It’s not ours, but His. When God requires a tithe, or ten percent, He could require all. In reality, He gives us all – but He can take back all anytime He wants. The lost person, blinded by sin and greed, thinks they are over everything. How foolish! God gave you life, and breath, and talent.

Like Israel, many churches today and many so called “Christians” think that THEY are in charge. God told Israel …

(Deuteronomy 8:17-20 NKJV) … you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ [18] “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU POWER TO GET WEALTH, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as [it is] this day. [19] “Then it shall be, if you by any means FORGET THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND FOLLOW OTHER GODS, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that YOU SHALL SURELY PERISH. [20] “As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would NOT BE OBEDIENT TO THE VOICE of the LORD your God.

Walk away from God and find out. Start pleasing yourself instead of your Owner, and find out.

2 The smart money is on pleasing God. Are you living a life pleasing to God. The Bible says:

(Colossians 3:23-25 NKJV) And WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT HEARTILY, AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT TO MEN, [24] knowing that FROM THE LORD you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for YOU SERVE THE LORD CHRIST. [25] But HE WHO DOES WRONG WILL BE REPAID for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Illustrate: I heard a preacher the other day recounting what happened in his Church. He said a young girl came to him and said, “Pastor, I love your sermons! My boyfriend and I laid in bed last Sunday listening to you preach”. The Pastor was stunned. He told the young woman, “Don’t you know you’re not to be in bed with a man not your husband? Don’t you know that sexual sin defiles the Temple of God? It defiles YOU?” He said that several members told him they were leaving the Church because of his comments to that girl. His response – “Then leave. I will not change the truth of God into a lie.” That’s wisdom.

Go ahead. Fool around and find out. God will not be trifled with. I hope you understand. I’ve followed the Lord for over 50 years now, and have been in Pastoral ministry since 1996 – about 30 years. I’ve seen people fool around and find out. You cannot outgive God, but you can anger God. I want to be on the side of God’s smile, not His frown. May God lead you to a right relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.