“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”  1 Corinthians 4:2

I always wondered why the Bible says that.  Why is faithfulness the one thing that is explicitly listed as a requirement for “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).  Why not love?  Or patience?  Or kindness?  Why not the ability to recite all the books of the Bible in order or memorize the most verses?  WHY FAITHFUL???

The key to this passage is understanding what a steward is – someone who was given something and asked to take care of it.  If you read the rest of the chapter, St. Paul makes it clear that he doesn’t think highly of himself or what he has accomplished.  He says that we are just stewards – not people who accomplished a lot, but people who received a lot.  In other words, all of us are just like little orphan Annie – we got lucky and hit the jackpot when God adopted us into His family.

But as a member of His family, there are certain expectations.  And those expectations center around faithfulness.  What must I do to remain in good standing in the house of our heavenly Big Daddy Warbucks?  I must do whatever I am asked to do.