Proverbs 14.35
“A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.”
We saw this unfold in the OT with the people of Israel. They were God’s covenant people — his servants in the world — and they were not faithful. They acted shamefully. The Lord repeatedly sent prophets who warned Israel to repent of their idolatry and disobedience, but Israel was stubborn and refused to repent. As a result, the OT nation of Israel experienced God’s judgment.
Those who trust in Christ are the Lord’s servants, and he has given us stewardship of his kingdom during of our time on planet earth. Have Christians today learned from the example of OT Israel?
When we repent of our sin and receive forgiveness in Christ, we are moved from a condition of death to a condition of new life. In Christ we not only receive the blessings of the kingdom, we also receive the responsibility of being stewards of the kingdom.
“He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1.13-14)
“…we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (I Thessalonians 2.12-13)
This is certainly good news, but there is a challenge. Many Christians want the blessings of the kingdom without the responsibilities. This was the mistake that Israel made in the OT, and it is tragic when Christians make the same mistake today.
Authentic faith in Christ accepts the blessings and the responsibilities.
Salvation is an incredible, wonderful gift, but it is not the goal of the Christian life; it is merely the beginning of it. Jesus did not bring the kingdom to save us; rather, he saved us so that we can serve in his kingdom. The purpose of the Christian life is to have dominion on earth as an agent of the kingdom, to love and serve God, and to love and serve others. Salvation is the necessary means by which we are redeemed and reconciled to God so that we can fulfill the purpose, but salvation itself is not the purpose.
If we accept the blessings of being saved but fail to focus on the responsibilities, we run the danger of acting like indulgent, self-centered, spoiled children who inherit the wealth of their father’s estate but refuse to do the work of stewardship that comes with the inheritance.
Many Christians seem to have forgotten the dominion commandment, and therefore have forgotten that being a servant means doing work. Lots of work. When Jesus described his second coming to the disciples, note the metaphor he used. “And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Luke 12.42-43)
It is very unfortunate that so many Christians believe the primary purpose of the Christian life is to be saved and happy. The truth is that the primary purpose of the Christian life is to trust God, do the work to which he calls us, and walk in wisdom. We could say it this way: God calls us to be disciplined in our behavior, diligent in our work, and discerning in our beliefs and decisions.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2.10)
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
Trust God, do the work, and be a faithful steward of the kingdom.
