BEN F. VICK, JR.
“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (I Cor. 4:1.)
A steward in Bible times “primarily denoted the manager of a household or estate.” He was the one who was entrusted with that which belonged to another. Eliezer of Damascus was a steward in Abraham’s house. (Gen. 15:2.) Joseph was entrusted with the possessions of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. (Ge. 39.) Chuza was Herod’s steward. (Lk. 8:3.) Several of the parables of our Lord mention stewards. (Mt. 29:8; Lk. 12:42; 16:1-8.) Elders are called stewards of God. (Tit. 1:7.) Preachers are stewards, and so is every Christian. (I Cor. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:10.)
As stewards of God we have been entrusted with precious and priceless possessions. Such valuables cannot be given a price tag due to their intrinsic worth. What makes these items so invaluable? It may be its cost, or age, or sentimental attachment, or ownership, or use, or the rarity of the item that makes it priceless.
The value of these possessions cannot be overestimated. If we fail to see the value of these holdings, we may mishandle them. A small child may trade a dime for a nickel because he does not understand the value of the two. My mother once baked a cake for me for my birthday; and while she had gone to call me, the dog jumped upon the table and ate the cake. (Though it did enjoy the cake, it did not appreciate the thought and the effort that went into it.) Pigs do not appreciate the value of pearls, but would rather have food. (Mt. 7:6.)
Let’s notice a few of the priceless possessions committed to us as stewards of God.
The church of Christ is a priceless possession. It does not belong to us. It was purchased by the precious blood of Christ. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Pet. 1:18-19.) The kingdom of heaven is compared to the merchant man who found the “pearl of great price and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Mt. 13:45-46.) It is precious and priceless because salvation is found within it. (Eph. 5:23; II Tim. 2:10.)
We are also stewards of the truth. (I Cor. 4:1.) Great and good men in days gone by have entrusted us with the gospel. “And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (II Tim 2:2.) We must preach it. (Mk. 16:15.) We must live it. (Phil. 1:27-28.) We must defend it. (Phil. 1:7, 17.) We must pass it on to the next generation as it has been handed to us.
The soul of man is a precious and priceless possession. Every man has one, and that distinguishes him from the animal world. It was given by God and will return to God. (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Ecc. 12:7.) The soul of man is a priceless possession, but has been sold as cheaply as dirt by many. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mt. 16:26.) It is a possession that must be cleansed when one reaches the age of accountability. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” (I Pet. 1:22.)
Time is a precious commodity which has been entrusted to us for a short while. Paul writes, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The marginal reading in some Bibles has “buying up the opportunities.” (Eph. 5:15-16.) There will come a time when there will be no more time. (Rev. 10:6.) Since God gave us time, we should use it wisely. Someone wrote, “Clocks show only the correct time, not the right time; for the right time is any time that something ought to be done that is your responsibility to do.” Brethren, let us work while it is day for the night cometh when no man can work.
Good health is a priceless possession which is taken for granted by some, but appreciated by all when it is lost. A person may have all the money in the world; but if he’s dying of cancer, it will do him no good. The woman who touched the border of Jesus’ garment “had spent all her living upon physicians,” but could be healed by none. It is beyond me how individuals, in the face of the evidence against tobacco, continue to smoke it, chew it, and dip it into the grave. They have buried loved ones who have shortened their lives by smoking and still are unable to “kick the habit.” The same is true of drinking or other harmful effects on the body. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Cor. 6:19,20.)
There are many other possessions entrusted to us that might be considered, but time and space do not allow it at this time. Remember, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (I Cor. 4:2.)
—The Informer, December 27, 1981
Vol. 35, No. 10.