“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts“
to be entrusted with the gospel,
“To be entrusted” is a banker’s term for making a deposit. The intent of making a deposit is to make money; we invest capital for making money. God has made a deposit in believers, and He expects compound interest. He expects dividends.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
“But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter…” (Galatians 2: 7 ).
“…according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1: 11).
“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—…” (1 Timothy 6: 20).
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:13-14).
“…but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior…” (Titus. 1: 3 ).
It is a wonderful thing to have God believe in us, to trust us with the gospel. To have Him place His confidence in us is a mark of honor.
Principle:
God entrusts some people with the gospel message.
Application:
How many people carried the gospel to you? They were faithful to their trust. You were the beneficiary of their faithfulness. Are you faithful in carrying the gospel to someone else? Are you bearing compound interest in winning people to God?
Some people are passionate about football. They will sit in minus-twenty-degree weather to watch a game. They almost die of exposure, but they are there to root for their team. Many Christians are not passionate about the gospel at all. They would not go out of their way or bear any inconvenience to share the gospel.
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship” (1 Corinthians 9: 16-17).
