Some passages of Scripture—and some preachers—give the impression that Christians should actually give up everything they own. But is that true? What Christians should do is give up ownership of everything they have. Therein lies a subtle but crucial difference. Paul would describe it in this cryptic paradox: “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things” (2 Cor. 6:10). He does not say we should be poor (although we acknowledge that some of our brothers and sisters are poor in material things). Instead Paul writes, “as poor”; we are to act as if we are poor—to be frugal with what we spend on ourselves, but lavish in the resources we invest in the great work of God, so that we are “making many rich.” Likewise he does not say that we have nothing, but that our lifestyle expresses the reality that every penny we have to use is not ours but His who bought us by His own blood. How can you be a steward if you have nothing to stew with?
This issue of Uplook includes articles on the four basic areas of Christian stewardship—our time, talents, things and truth. These form a comprehensive whole. One or two of them will not accomplish the massive task set before the Church. For example, investing large amounts of money without sacrificing men will not do it. Every assembly should be willing to give up the best servants they have to a wider ministry if the Spirit so directs. Can you imagine what it cost the Antioch assembly to loose Paul and Barnabas from local church involvement so they could fulfill the work to which He had called them? But how much poorer we all would be without the teaching and examples that these men provided. Antioch seemed to be a good-sized assembly, but think of the two smaller works in Lystra and Derbe willing to release Timothy (perhaps their brightest and most hopeful protégé).
Nor will it be a viable project if we send out servants without supplies. The servant should not be unwilling to “make tents” at times, but assemblies will be held to account for not faithfully supporting those whom they send, both with prayers and provisions. Some brethren seem to be working with a 1960s financial framework, feeling themselves to be quite generous when the gift barely covers travel costs. Of course these servants are looking to the Lord and are not expecting to be “paid for services rendered,” nor do they want to be burdensome to small or struggling groups to whom they minister. But in my experience there seems to be a direct relationship between material generosity on the part of believers and their spiritual enrichment by the Lord, who is no man’s debtor.
In addition, we should remember those who have not crossed oceans but are missionaries nonetheless, pioneer evangelists who remain virtually unknown to many North American assemblies. We should not expect them to spend time circulating among established assemblies in order to “become known” (hint, hint) so the Christians would be “exercised” about them (nudge, nudge). Of course it is the Lord who meets their needs and we know He can use ravens on occasion when His people are insensitive to the need, but His preferred method is to utilize the Lord’s people so they also are enriched in the process.
Yet sacrificing such able servants, and supporting them, will still come to nothing if the truth committed to us as a sacred trust (2 Tim. 2:2) is squandered. To let these truths “slip” (Heb. 2:1) or “dribble away” has been a danger since the first century, but never more so than in this age of doctrinal illiteracy and pragmatic compromise, when tolerance—even in divine thing —is held as a virtue. God help us to speak the truth in love but never to forget that we are “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1).
Uplook Magazine, September 2004
Written by J. B. Nicholson Jr