Where Are the Faithful and Wise Servants?

Where Are the Faithful and Wise Servants?

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” 1 Cor. 4:1

Who today can say that he is a steward of the mysteries of Christ? Who can say, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”? If there is such a person, he has the right to be heard; he is fit to be a servant in the church of the living God.

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Verse 2. If there is one thing that I am certain is lacking in our time, it is stewards of the mysteries of God. To be a steward of the mysteries of God, you must first possess them. God doesn’t entrust His mysteries to just anyone. Even human beings don’t entrust their secrets to just anyone. To be a steward, you need to be in possession of a number of God’s mysteries—then you can make them available at the right time to those who need them.

Jesus said, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.” Matt. 24:44-47.

In these verses, Jesus is speaking about the end times. That we have come to the end times is certain, but how is our stewardship over the mysteries of Christ? Virtually all preachers speak only to sinners because they have nothing to give the children of God. They don’t even realize that there are mysteries of Christ. At best, they know there is an expression “mysteries of Christ” in the Bible. They are in a very sorry state. Yet in the assembly of the dead you can be a priest, pastor, preacher or whatever other title you choose. Prov. 21:16. But your title will be of little help when Christ is revealed if you have not been a faithful steward of the mysteries of God. You can be saved, but if you have not been a faithful steward, you will receive no reward for your work. It has only been a means of livelihood, and you already have received your reward for it—just as a shoemaker and a blacksmith receive wages for their work.

We will not reproach anyone for not possessing the mysteries of God without also showing them how to find them. Read 1 Timothy 3:16. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels,” etc. This mystery is called the mystery of godliness. In other words, through personal godliness we can receive the mysteries of Christ. The first mystery is: Christ manifested in the flesh. The life of Christ can only be manifested in the flesh through godly fear. We have all seen religious people from denominations who so closely resemble the world in their conduct, dress and life—perhaps even smoking a pipe—that they are far from having Christ manifested in them. But we have also seen one of the few, one among thousands, in whom Christ’s image has been displayed to a certain degree. If you want to speak about deeper spiritual things, go to the latter—but don’t be mistaken here, for some people have, through years of hypocrisy, acquired a mask that can easily deceive you. From a person in whom Christ has become manifest, the knowledge of Christ will radiate. He has received what he has through obedience and faithfulness. The day comes for him when the knowledge that Jesus also had to deny and humble Himself becomes a comfort. He realized his faithful Savior also had to experience humiliation, also had to be obedient, also had to deny Himself. Consider how great this is. This is Christ manifested in the flesh. Where do these eloquent preachers place Jesus? Hundreds of miles above the clouds. But in reality, He is at the right hand of the poor and the God-fearing—He is manifested in the flesh. “For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.” Ps. 109:31.

Schools of theology cannot impart to a soul the knowledge of the mysteries of Christ; neither can eloquence nor the art of preaching. Only the fear of God can.

So those who are to be stewards of the mysteries of Christ must be God-fearing people. God clearly does not appoint anyone else to give His people food in due season, and food is what God’s people need. Sinners need forgiveness. Many people preach to sinners, but how many provide food??

Personally, when the time came that I needed food, I received blows and insults. Not a single person gave me spiritual nourishment. As a poor, starving youth, I looked around to see if there might be even one who understood me, but there was no one. When it came to chasing me away, preachers were the worst. But I thank God that He did not forsake me. He led me through fire and water so that I could cleanse myself. Later, God’s Spirit began His crushing work in my inner being; it only took about two months for me to become as a stranger to my mother’s children. There was no longer room for me in preachers’ hearts or in their congregations. But what happened to me was like what happened to the one who was born blind: he met Jesus out on the street. Outside all the denominations, I, too, met Him daily. No wonder it is written, “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp.” It is true that He does not leave us orphans, even if there is no one in the flesh we can honor as our spiritual fathers.

If you want to be taught by the Spirit, prepare your soul for trials. Listen and obey. Come to rest in your spirit. Let honor and dishonor fly past your ears as if they had nothing to do with you. Take up your cross daily, and if you have received a truth, defend it with the Sword. Treat everyone impartially, and do not put your trust in priests and preachers. Most of them let themselves be bought for wages. Surely the salvation of your soul is too valuable to just be a part of their business of “soul saving.”

Blessed is everyone who, at the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ, is found giving food in due season to the Lord’s disciples. We need food—not long sermons. We need sheep that can nurse the lambs; we need preachers who can give things of spiritual value to the people of God. Away with these “day-by-day” stories. What concern is it to God’s people how the preacher takes advantage of people’s ignorance “day after day”? If God were to enlighten people just a little bit, they would have placed these gentlemen in the back row and told them to repent from all their arrogance. One day this will happen, much to people’s great amazement. Many of those who are among the first will be among the last.

The time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; for it is written, “Judge those who are inside; those who are outside, God judges.” (Norw.).

Even if you have been saved from sin, you will probably be left to the mercy of fate if you yourself don’t have an ear to hear. Preachers themselves know nothing about salvation through the life of Christ. Rom. 5:10. It would be ridiculous to demand that they give others what they themselves do not have.

Are you one of those who travels around preaching and glorifying all the spectacular new meeting halls you see, praising everyone who receives you and reveling in self-exaltation because many in their blind admiration of authority look up to you? Then know that the only thing that will determine your worth on that Day is the quality of the nourishment you gave the lambs. Many have already had their eyes opened to the difference between food and amusing stories. They see through you when you boast and when you make the congregation laugh to satisfy your flesh with their applause. Thanks be to God that the chariot of salvation is moving, and more and more people belong to that host that are refining and cleansing themselves in these last days. For such people, preachers’ worn-out stories are mere chaff for the fire. They know about something more profound, something better, something that weighs in the scales.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church.