“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

After preaching about our responsibility of being a ‘Good Steward’ for Jesus Christ, found in 2 parables in Luke 16, it was time for our resident ‘Benedictor’ to close the service. Vic, our resident attorney and fellow member, rose to the occasion and proceeded to throw out the term ‘Fiduciary’ at least a handful of times! I could sense the Holy Spirit saying, “Pay attention to that word!”

A Fiduciary is a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another, with strict care that ensures no conflict of interest arises between the fiduciary and his principle. A fiduciary obligation exists whenever the relationship with another involves a special trust, confidence, or reliance, upon the fiduciary, to exercise his discretion or expertise in acting or assisting the principle. Whew! That was a mouthful!

As members of the Body of Christ, we are designed and designated by Jesus Christ to special service and relationship to one another. He calls us to love, serve, encourage and support one another in a kind of fiduciary role that benefits both Christ AND His Principles…fellow Believers! The service provided is out of LOVE and CARE and is NOT for the purpose of financial gain for the fiduciary. I guess Pastors COULD be considered professional Fiduciaries!

The faith life of a fellow believer is a kind of trust! It may be varying in size and power, but by itself it doesn’t actually BELONG to the individual. It BELONGS to its author, Jesus Christ. That said, my faith is meant to be shared and involved with others. Our mutual responsibility is to take care of the Trust which Christ has given and to benefit our owner AND each other.

There are LOTS of commands that God gives in His Word about our responsibility toward one another. Unfortunately, there is a fleshy, selfish streak that tends to get in the way when someone comes to believe that THEIR faith and walk are their own exclusive property! It can become a VERY messy business when direction, instruction, help and care become perceived as interference, instead of a directive from God.

I thank God for His Church! When the service was finished I received news about a bill we received AND a political view expressed toward Christians in general. I was immediately angered and began to vent to a couple of people I ‘trust.’ They ’talked me down,’ with Jesus own words, in a gentle, yet forceful and loving way. The ‘preacher’ had become the student!

There is a saying I love that goes like this. “No one of us, has it all together…but all of us together.. have it all!” I LOVE that kind of security and mutual concern. And having been in some rather difficult times in life, I have learned to appreciate the encouraging words of a fellow Christian Fiduciary…and have learned to LISTEN!