God’s Word Entrusted to Us Is Meant to Be Shared

God’s Word Entrusted to Us Is Meant to Be Shared

Romans 3 “¹Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ²Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. ³What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? ⁴By no means! Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written,

‘That you may be justified in your words,
    and prevail when you are judged.’

⁵But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) ⁶By no means! For then how could God judge the world? ⁷But if through my lie God's truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?⁸And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.”

In Romans 3:1 – 8 Paul continues his dialogue specifically directed to his Jewish readers. He begins by pointing out that one of the big advantages of being a Jew is that they were “entrusted with the very Words of God” (NIV 1984). In looking at Paul’s statement, please don’t miss the keyword in that statement. I underlined it for emphasis. The word is “entrusted” the K JV uses the word “committed”. These word uses are important. Paul didn’t say that the Word had been given to them. Givengenerally gives the impression that the gift is given with no strings attached. Paul’s use of the word “entrusted” or “committed” indicates that with this great gift comes great responsibilities. God’s Word is given that it might be re-given over and over again. Interestingly, we can give this gift away yet still maintain possession of it ourselves. 

I’m not sure you noticed, but I transitioned from the Jews to us as believers. Just as the Jews were entrusted with the gift of the Old Testament, we have been entrusted with the completed Word of God. Just like the Jews, this gift brings with it a responsibility to re-gift and at the same time maintain possession of it ourselves. We re-gift through living transformed lives, through teaching and preaching, through quoting, through reading aloud, through sharing… really there are many, many ways we can re-gift the Word of God. The main thing to understand is that God’s Word is not given with no strings attached, but entrusted, which means it comes with important responsibilities.

In this life there may be times that we are entrusted with the responsibility of gifts that exceed our capabilities to fulfill the trust. That is not the case with God, God never misjudges our capabilities! If the ball is dropped on what God entrusts into our care, that is completely on us. We are fully worthy of God’s trust because His gifts to us bring with them His power through the Holy Spirit who indwells us. We are worthy of His trust because the Worthy One empowers us. Therefore, walk in a manner worthy of His gift entrusted into our care.