But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4
A man who was dying of cancer wanted to leave a sizable amount of money to his two sons. But the boys were both still in their teens, so their father arranged that the money would be placed in trust with his brother, to be turned over to the sons when the youngest boy turned 21 years of age. The sick father died, and in time his sons grew into manhood. When the youngest turned 21, he and his brother approached their uncle to receive their inheritance. To their amazement, their uncle presented each of them with a portfolio that contained investments worth three times as much as their father had left them. Their father had wisely placed the money in trust with a man who would handle that trust to the best advantage of the boys. The uncle could give a good report of his trust. In our text, Paul speaks of God having put him and his fellow workers in trust with the Gospel. And Paul could give a good report of his trust. Are we able to do the same?
It was not money, but the Gospel, that God placed in trust with Paul, and that He places in trust with us. What did Paul do with that trust? He recognized that the Gospel would do for others what it had done for him, and was excited about passing it on. He used the Gospel effectively during his missionary travels to see thousands of souls saved and dozens of Assemblies planted. He used his trust to carry that Gospel to kings and princes and governors, to testify before the philosophers on Mars Hill and the prisoners in Roman prisons. He honoured that trust in city marketplaces, in synagogues and street corners, on the heaving decks of sailing ships and in the homes of men and women of all sectors of society. He recognized the Gospel for the treasure that it was, and did all that he could to advance it. He knew that preaching the Gospel was how God expected him to carry out his trust. How do we carry out our trust?
Make no mistake, God has put us in trust with the Gospel, just as He did with Paul. No, we are not all called like Paul to be a missionary, or like our full-time workers to be preachers. Maybe more of us could be more preachers than we are. Maybe more of us could be better witnesses than we are. But even the sisters, who are not called to preach publicly, are able to speak a word of testimony, give a Gospel tract or an invitation to Gospel meetings. And there are two things that every one of us can – and should – do regarding the Gospel that God has placed in our trust. First, we can live before the world a life that displays what the Gospel is capable of doing for a sinner. Secondly, we can pray for lost souls to be reached with the Gospel. That means we pray not only for our loved ones and friends, but also for the loved ones of other Assembly members, for the ones attending Gospel meetings, for the ones being reached by the preachers and the missionaries. Prayer is a huge component of our trust with the Gospel.
God could place no greater treasure into our trust. Is He getting the return He should from us? – Jim MacIntosh