The necessity, on every occasion, to respond to God’s authority in an appropriate manner is a central pattern found throughout scripture. While men feel that God is permissive and does not expect fealty from men, the Bible reveals otherwise, both explicitly, and implicitly.
As an example, consider Paul’s explanation of his God given stewardship in his first letter to the Thessalonians. “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Paul often contended that his apostleship was from God. It was his defense of his actions. In effect, he was doing what he was doing because this was what God expected of him. In the first verse of his letter to the Galatians he identified himself in this way, “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.”
This legitimate claim to have his apostleship from God fully explains why Paul did what he did, and said what he said. “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Consider the words here, as to how they compare to the phrase “we have been entrusted with the gospel” in 1 Thessalonians 2:2.
Paul had been entrusted with a stewardship of the gospel. Stewardship is defined: “the job of supervising or taking care of something.” Paul had the job of taking care of the gospel which had been entrusted to him. He took that job seriously. It became the primary motivation for his life as a Christian, “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also” (Romans 1:15). It made him bold, “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). It determined the nature of his approach to others, “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from your or from others…” (2:5-6a).
In short, since God had given him the stewardship, he recognized the necessity to speak it, “not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” Paul understood that as an apostle, his responsibility was to please the One who gave him that stewardship. He had to be faithful to the instructions and obligations given him by God.
This principle applies to each and every one of us. In our relationship with Christ, He is our Master, we are His bondservants. Every aspect of our live must be in accord with His will for us. This truth is axiomatic. It impacts not only our interaction with Christ Himself, but every part of our life. Consider these instructions Paul gave to bondservants, “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:5-6).
In every instance, every circumstance, every relationship, every decision, we are to submit to the will of Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). This is what God has the right to expect, and does expect of us.
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