1 Corinthians 4:1-2

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. RSV

Even though Paul is speaking here, specifically, about the apostles, I believe that this is an admonition to all of us. In truth, we are all considered to be stewards of God in one way or another. If we are moms, we are stewards of God’s most precious possessions: children. And it is our responsibility to be trustworthy in that stewardship.

In fact, if we are not teaching our own children, we should be, as mature women in the Lord, teaching others somewhere what we have learned about being Christian women. Titus 2 tells us:

Bid the older women . . . to teach what is good, and so train the young women (v. 2-3, in part, RSV). If we are the “young” women, we likely have our own children at home to teach and train. If we are the “older” women, our responsibility is to mentor the younger women around us.

We are stewards . . . and it is imperative that we be found trustworthy.

Trustworthiness is a concept that’s, for the most part, grown out of favor among American Christians. We are much more comfortable touting our “sinfulness” and inability to achieve (as sinners). We would rather excuse our inabilities, rather than challenge ourselves to rise above our base instincts and achieve what God has called us to be.

I find more and more as I’m involved with conversations with Christians all over America (and in Western countries throughout the world) that we would rather accept our limitations and live with ourselves as imperfect and sinful, rather than to trust God to strengthen us to do more than we are able.

Romans 8:37: “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

It used to be that Christians believed, truly believed, that not only were they called to live lives morally above reproach, but that such lives were possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now some of us are more content to sit on our duffs and wait for God to somehow change us, albeit against our will. Others are simply willing to accept that we are sinful and think there’s no reason to even consider whether or not our behavior is pleasing to Him. It’s all covered by the blood anyway.

We have not been found trustworthy.

The true sense of the Greek is that we must the kind of people that God (and others) can trust. As we trust God, they can trust us. Think about it. We trust God because of His nature, because of Who He is. We know that He won’t let us down, that what He says He will do!

Is that true about us as believers? Can people believe what we say? When we are wrong, do we apologize and make it right, even if making it right brings us hurt? Are we focused on what’s important for others, rather than simply getting out of life what we want (or think we need) for ourselves?

Are we trustworthy?

I think it’s high time that we, as American Christians, begin to consider whether or not we have become what the Lord Jesus really wants us to be.