Stewards of the Truth

   As Christians, we have a duty to be the bearers of God’s truth.  We are supposed to present it to the world boldly in both word and, more importantly, in deed.  Further, we are called to be wise stewards of everything God gives us.  Everything means everything, including the truth.  What does it mean to be to be a good steward of the truth?

   First, we must know the truth.  Imagine trying to manage a parcel of land you have never seen.  Trying to maximize your harvest is going to be a difficult game of trial and error.  So many potential issues can be understood and resolved by simply seeing the land in person.  Likewise, when it comes to matters of the truth, the better we know the truth, the better we will be at wisely presenting it.  

   Second, don’t overstate or understate the truth.  This is a huge temptation when speaking to others about our beliefs.  We want to make things sound better than they really are.  Jesus was never afraid to tell people the hard truths.  He would rightly tell people that his yoke was easy and his burden was light.  Meanwhile, he made it clear that the price of following him was nothing short of everything that we are.  What Jesus taught us is amazingly good news, and he doesn’t need us to spin it for him.

   Third, we must live the truth.  If I came proclaiming that eating vegetables was the only healthy way to live while eating a hamburger, would you not dismiss my word because of my actions?  In short, I am claiming the virtues of a lifestyle that I am not adhering to.  Ask yourself, “Does what I preach match my actions?”.  If you cannot say yes, then you need to change either your actions, your words, or both.

   The hard truth is that we are all hopelessly mired in sin, and our only hope comes from God’s saving grace provided through the sacrifice by his perfect, sinless son, Jesus.  The worst thing we can do as ambassadors of God’s truth is to betray the gospel by trying to project a false image of Christianity that isn’t real.

   

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” -Titus 2:7-8