Steward of God's Grace

When I was eleven, we lived for a short time in Idaho. Our neighbors had two dogs – an older cocker spaniel and labrador puppy. The family asked if I would care for their dogs, watch the house, and check the mail while they were on vacation. It was my job to feed the dogs and give them water, play with them, let them outside several times a day, and clean up after them. One morning when I checked on the dogs, the puppy had pooped on the cement floor of the unfinished basement. I started to clean it up, and threw up on top of the poop. I had two messes to clean up, and I learned that to this day, I do not tolerate sights and smells of certain things like dog poop. The dogs survived, and the neighbors were happy with the way I had taken care of their dogs, house, and mail while they were gone.

Last week, we looked at Paul as a prisoner of Christ. He started a prayer for the Ephesian church but immediately shifted gears. He decided mid-thought that he should explain his imprisonment which also serves as a reminder or an extension of truths he has previously shared in Chapter 2. For today, we will consider Paul’s role as a steward.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. [1]

Ephesians 3:1-13 (emphasis added)

“assuming that you have heard” – Assuming in English can often be taken negatively because we suppose something without proof of it being true. This can often get us into trouble. In the Greek, this phrase is a first-class conditional clause, meaning the premise is assumed to be true but more certain than our assuming often is. In this case, it is assumed to be true that the Ephesian believers had heard. Another way to phrase it might be, “As I am sure you have already heard.” Paul was writing something he believed the Ephesians had already heard, but he was going to repeat it. There is value in repeating God’s truth. We are forgetful. We get distracted. We take who God is, what He has done, and our identity in Christ for granted. It is good to be reminded.

What does Paul assume the Ephesian believers had heard? The stewardship of God’s grace that was given to him for them. Paul was a steward. A steward is someone who is responsible to care for or manage someone else’s belongings, particularly a household or business (like I did briefly for our neighbors). Paul was a steward of God’s grace which was the Gospel (vs 7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:16-17; 4:1). As we learned throughout the first two chapters of Paul’s letter, the Gospel overflows with grace.

God’s grace was given to Paul. Paul was divinely appointed by grace to be a steward of grace. “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,… But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy1:12-14, emphasis added). Paul was graciously appointed by God to share the Gospel.

But that’s not all. The stewardship of God’s grace was “for you,” the Gentiles (vs 1). Although Paul went first to the Jews, his own people,[2] the ministry God had given him was specifically for the Gentiles.

Next, Paul elaborates on his stewardship: “how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly” (vs 3). We will examine “the mystery” more closely over the next few weeks (vs 6) as Paul explained it more fully. If you remember from the second half of Chapter 2, Paul detailed how the Gentiles who once were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, without God, and were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ, are fellow citizens, members of God’s household, and part of the church God is building with Jesus as the cornerstone. This mystery, that was hidden until God chose to reveal it, unites Jews and Gentiles in Christ.

The mystery was made known to Paul. This phrase in the Greek is in the divine passive. The mystery was made known by God’s effort not Paul’s. Paul received it, but only God could reveal it to Paul.

God made they mystery known to Paul by revelation. This revelation likely refers to Paul on the road to Damascus when a bright light shone, and Jesus spoke directly to Paul (Acts 9:1-6). In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul stated: “For I did not receive it [the Gospel] from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12). As Richard Coekin expresses it, Paul’s revelation was divine revelation not human invention.

Paul was given stewardship of the Gospel for the Gentiles, made known to him by revelation, as he had written briefly. This phrase is the Greek prographō meaning written beforehand. Paul is probably not referring to a separate letter, but to verses 1:3, 9-10 and 2:11-22. Paul received the stewardship of the Gospel from God. He proclaimed it in person in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-10). Now, Paul wrote it in a letter to be shared with all the churches in the area.

Paul was a faithful steward of the Gospel of grace which God entrusted to him. He faithfully endured imprisonments, countless beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, continuous journeys, a host of dangers from people, circumstances, and the elements, he went without food, was thirsty, was burdened beyond his own strength, and he even despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 11:23-27; 1:5). Paul was a faithful steward of the Gospel until he was martyred for no other reason than preaching the Gospel (Acts 28:31; Acts 21:13).[3] As he wrote to Timothy near the end of his life: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7). Paul was a faithful steward of God’s grace until the end.

We also have been entrusted with the message of the Gospel. We are ambassadors for Christ. Will you be a faithful steward of the Gospel you have received, believed, and been entrusted with to share?

Reflection

1.    As you think of your daily to-do list whether that is job, school, errands, or chores, is being a faithful steward of the Gospel part of your day? Are you prepared to share the Gospel? Are you making the most of the opportunities God brings to you? Maybe as you begin your day, pray that God would open your eyes to opportunities and give you boldness to share the Gospel. You can also be purposeful as you think of your day where there might be an opportunity to share and be ready!

2.    We are to be good stewards of all the blessings God has given us including time, spiritual gifts, knowledge, opportunities, skills, money, and possessions (1 Peter 4:10; Matthew 25:14-30). We use them to minister to other believers and to witness to unbelievers. List some of the blessings God has given you. Then, next to each one, write either the ways you are being a good steward or ways you can grow in faithfully stewarding what God has given you.

3.    Paul willingly endured all kinds of suffering and ultimately death for the sake of the Gospel. What might you need to willingly endure for the sake of the Gospel? What truths from Scripture will encourage you to be a faithful steward?

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 3:1–13.

[2] Romans 1:16, Note also how Paul’s method of ministry throughout his missionary journeys in Acts.

[3] Scripture does not record Paul’s death, but from various passages it would seem that Paul died in Rome for preaching the Gospel.