 
|
|
|
Ministers
Compared to Stewards
|
|
“Who then is that
faithful and wise steward,” Luke 12:42
“Let a man so account of
us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards
of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required
in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1Corinthians 4:1-2
|
|
Steward, stewardship, rendered in 1
Corinthians 9:17. Dispensation, properly
signifieth the administration of
household business, whereof one taketh
such and such care, and doth so dispose
thereof, as that he appointeth every one
what they are to do.
NOTE, true gospel ministers are stewards, spiritual Stewards,
Stewards of god.
|
|
|
|
|
Metaphor
|
Parallel
|
|
|
|
|
I. A Steward is an officer that
principally belongs to great men; few,
besides rich and noble persons, have
Stewards of their houses.
|
I. So true gospel-Ministers, or pastors, are
officers that belong to Christ's house, who is a great
Prince, nay, king of heaven and earth.
|
|
|
|
|
II. A Steward is a person that hath a
great trust and charge reposed in him;
many rich and excellent things are
committed to his care and oversight,
sometimes all the goods of the house,
and charge of the family.
|
II. So faithful
ministers have a mighty trust reposed in
them; the Lord Jesus hath committed to
their care and charge things of very
great worth and value, even all the
goods of his house.
- They are entrusted with the truth,
and every branch and part of it,
called the mysteries of God, which
is of inestimable value.
- The whole church, they have the care
and charge of the whole family or
household of God.
- They have the care and charge of
men’s souls committed to them.
|
|
|
|
|
III. It behoveth a steward to be
faithful in all things, seeking the
honour of his Lord: they ought to be
much in their business, not leaving it
to others, that are not experienced in
it, nor careful to look after it; nor
leave their master’s business, to mind
and look after their own.
|
III. So ought
every Minister of Christ to be faithful
in all things, wholly studying the
profit, honour, and interest of the Lord
Jesus. They ought continually to be
about his affairs, not leave the
management of the Church, and concerns
of the ministry, like some self-seeking
priests of our days, to others, who are
inexperienced, negligent, and worse; to
follow their own concerns, and living in
ease and pleasure, pursuing after the
riches and vanities of the world,
mattering not whether Christ be honoured or no, or
whether his interest sink or swim, so
that things go well with them, and they
thrive in the world. There are too many
such in this day, so that we may well
say with the apostle, All seek their
own, and none the things that are Jesus
Christ’s.
|
|
|
|
|
IV. Stewards give direction to all
inferior officers, and others in the
family, about their respective work and
business.
|
IV. So Ministers give direction to the
deacons, and other members of Christ’s church, how to discharge their
duties in their respective places, &c.
|
|
|
|
V. Stewards must expect to be called to
an account, and if unfaithful, are
frequently put out of their stewardship:
“Give an account of thy stewardship; for
thou mayest be no longer steward,” Luke
16:2.
|
V. So all the Ministers of Christ must expect to be called
to an account. The time is coming, when Christ will reckon with them; and
happy will they be, that have their
accounts to give up with joy, to whom
the Lord Jesus will say, “Well done,
thou good and faithful servant,” &c.
|
|
| This article may or may not have been edited by the webmaster
of learnthebible.org. If you have any questions about this material feel free
to ask. |
|
