Question 3.
What are stewards/servants/slaves (us) [supposed to be] like?
We are going to depart now from the typical job description and explain in some detail what these people are (supposed to be) like, these stewards, these servants, these slaves (us). I don’t think I have ever seen a job description that details this kind of information. However, the Bible has a great deal to say on this subject and it is very specific. I hope you are ready for this. The four passages listed below are a real challenge. Can you handle it? Are you up to it?
The place where you see this kind of description is usually in classified advertisements for jobs/positions. I remember when I was gainfully employed and needed to hire a particular kind of person. The first thing you do is contact the personnel department (they call it human resources now) and describe what amounts to a superhuman individual who can do everything and anything. One who is a self starter. One who can multi-task (easy for all you women). One who is good with people and communicates well both in writing and orally, etc. The personnel department then runs the ad in the local newspaper and when you read it you realize that the person you described doesn’t exist. I see these kinds of ads all the time and you probably do too, especially if you are looking for a job.
Well, none of us are actually looking for a job. We already have one. The real question is: How well do we fit the description?
Phil 2:1-11 ____________________________________________________________
2 Tim 2:24-25__________________________________________________________
1 Cor 4:2 _____________________________________________________________
Titus 1:5-9_____________________________________________________________
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Phil 2:1-11 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASB
2 Tim 2:24-25 And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, NASB
1 Cor 4:2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. NASB
Titus 1:5-9 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. NASB