04/18/2018 BE A GOOD STEWARD
1 Corinthians 6:19 Haven’t you yet learned that your body is the home of the HOLY SPIRIT GOD gave you, and that HE lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you. [Living Bible]
Definition: Steward: One who manages another's property, finances, or other affairs.
Stewardship: The job of taking care of or supervising something.
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
First Corinthians is one of the epistles or letters written by the Apostle Paul. During his missionary journeys spreading Christianity, Paul established a number of churches in various cities. As he basically planted these “baby churches” through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul stayed connected with these churches and new Christians by writing letters of encouragement and instruction. He wanted these churches to grow and understand GOD’s WORD and what it meant to call oneself a Christian. These letters became teaching tools.
First Corinthians actually includes an introduction. There, Paul provides a greeting to the Corinthians. Paul begins the letter by describing the writer. He states: From Paul, chosen by GOD to be JESUS CHRIST’s missionary and Sosthenes, our brother. Although brother Sosthenes is mentioned, there are many who believe that Sosthenes may have been Paul’s writer or transcriptionist.
It is interesting to note that in Paul’s greeting in Corinthians 1:1, Paul, as he does in other letters or epistles, makes it clear who he works for and who is in charge. Here are some samples of Paul’s greetings to various churches:
Ephesians1:1 This is Paul writing to you, chosen by GOD to be JESUS CHRIST’s messenger. [Living Bible translation]
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of JESUS CHRIST. [King James translations]
Colossians 1:1 Paul, An Apostle of CHRIST JESUS by the will of GOD, and Timothy our brother. [New International translation]
Galatians 1:1 Paul, An apostle---not from men nor through men, but through JESUS CHRIST and GOD THE FATHER, who raised HIM from the dead---and all the brethren who are with me. [Revised Standard translation]
Paul understood his job. He never tried to claim that he, Paul, was in charge. Paul knew he was just a steward.
Nor did Paul try to glorify himself or his position by suggesting that he was a “the head steward,” or “the main man.” Paul gives the glory to GOD.
Paul also took his job seriously. He compared himself to servant or slave to JESUS CHRIST, meaning that Paul didn’t even consider his own body to be his. See Philippians 1:1 and Titus 1:1.
The importance of understanding that your own body is not your own, is also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 6:19. Paul states that our bodies are “dwelling places” or “home,” or “temples,” of the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD. According to Paul, this also entails stewardship and the duty to maintain the body in a way that would be pleasing to GOD
Paul makes it also clear that our earthly bodies are bought with “a great price,” because JESUS died so that we might live. According to Paul, this sacrifice and HIS dwelling in us is why we should glorify GOD always, in our body and our spirit. See, Corinthians 1:30.