Luke 16:10 NASBS
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
Ephesians 3:2 NASBS
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
Paul’s allusion to the stewardship God gave him might go over many people’s heads. God entrusted him with the duty of caring for His church and guiding and instructing His people. Paul considered his calling from Christ as a privilege, a duty, and a commitment for which God Himself would hold him accountable.
We will witness Paul bringing up this responsibility given to him multiple times. He recognized that the responsibility assigned to him was not just a favor or a fight he could fancy to follow or disregard. This stewardship was a divine mandate in his life.
The grace that Paul speaks of in the second verse of Ephesians 3 is distinct from the love and forgiveness that comes from God and that grants us a new life in Christ. He is speaking of the grace of being entrusted with the divine mandate to be an apostle to the Gentiles and to take care of the many churches he came across.
Romans 1:14-15 NASBS
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. [15] So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
Paul sees preaching the Gospel as an obligation he cannot ignore, and he approaches it with the passion of an ardent missionary, eager to reach every heart that needs to hear the message. He stands unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faithfully serves as a steward of God’s gifts.
I find the best context for this passage in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul teaches about the Spiritual Gifts. He affirms to all members of the church that the gifts imparted by the Spirit of God aid in mutual growth in Christ.
It’s not about how impressive the gift is, it’s about how it contributes to the church. Paul was a pro at evangelizing to the Gentiles. God handpicked him to be the one apostle for the Gentiles. In being faithful to the calling and divine commission to spread the word of salvation to the Gentiles, Paul reached out to many people All Around the World. Paul tirelessly worked for the spiritual benefit of all, regardless of background, from the most well-known to the most obscure, from those of Greek and Roman descent, to the Barbarians, Jews, and Gentiles, both free and enslaved, men and women alike.
The thought of sharing the gospel filled Paul with eagerness and anticipation. Do we approach our Christian service with eagerness and enthusiasm? Or do we just do it because we feel like we have to? Once we get how much Jesus has done for us and what he’s got for others, we’ll want to tell everyone the Good News. Can we pray to God to revive our enthusiasm and willingness to follow Him, and to share the message of Christ with others?
Let this be a prayer for all of us, myself included.
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