Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Stewardship. We often refer to this word when we talk about finances and ownership. Therefore, to see it paired with the “mysteries of God” should make us stop and reflect. Do we steward the mysteries of God in a manner as if they were precious gold or silver?
The word “MYSTERIES” here has its root in the Greek word, musterion, which means, “some sacred thing hidden or secret which is naturally unknown to human reason and is only known by the revelation of God,”[1] while to steward means to “administer”; Therefore, to steward mysteries is to administer or manage the secrets of God. We should know when to share these secrets, keep these secrets, apply these secrets, reflect on these secrets, and allow for these secrets to increase.
When I was a young girl, I collected mystery books and marveled at the way cases were solved. There were days when I couldn’t put my books down out of sheer suspense. Sometimes, I’d crack the case before the main character; at other times, I was at the mercy of the flow of the story as knowledge only increased chapter by chapter.
When we start to know God more, we are bound to enter a world of mystery and question. After all, “Who is this God of the Bible?” we ask. “Can He even be searched out?” “Why did He act in such a manner?” “Why does God love and dispense justice the way He does?” We will find certain Scriptures baffling, and in fact, we should have moments where the sheer suspense of finding more about God stops us from falling asleep!
Often, as we crack open mysteries about God and receive nuggets of revelation, we will be led to other mysteries and then other nuggets of revelation. Like all the best mysteries in the world— to know who God is, what He’s like, how He speaks, how He works, how He loves the world, how He views us— will take time as we turn the pages of the Bible day by day, month after month, year after year. The process of knowing God should be a delightful search!
Now imagine being a knight and being given a sword. What happens if you don’t know how to use the sword? You’d most likely wound yourself or worse, die in battle from lack of knowledge for that which could have saved your life! And not just your own life, but that of others!
The Bible, which contains mysteries of God and revelation from Him, is powerful—likened to a sword and should be treated as such—not haphazardly, but with skill and precision. Hebrews 4:12 says this: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” To be able to know how to use God’s Word like a sword is stewardship. And God wants us to be trustworthy in this.
That said, let’s take time to unearth, dig into the mysteries of God, and manage these mysteries. Let’s learn the delight of finding out about God and His ways. Proverbs 25:2 says this: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Now that’s one little mystery right there. Kings, you ask? Does God view us as kings? Time to search out God’s mysteries and steward them well!
[1] Ed. Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Doctionary: New Testament. Iowa: World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1992.
Janina Marie Rivera is the Editor-in-Chief of One Voice Magazine, a teacher of world literature, and a student of the Bible. She enjoys reflecting on life’s curve balls and plateaus. She resides in the Philippines, the country known for people who smile a lot.
