From: Dwight & Pam Burford
Chapter 3: Agency, Stewardship, and Judgment
https://hisworkmanship.net/why-adam-lost-his-agency-in-the-garden-chapter-3/
Agency—According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, agency is the office of an agent; it is the quality of acting; that of moving and of exerting power; of being in a state of action, operation, and instrumentality. Thus, those who have been given agency (the office of an agent) are those who have been given power and the capability to act in an instrumental way and within a certain capacity.
In one sense, an agent is someone who is entrusted with the business of another, including in ministry. Consider Jesus and the question He asked his parents, “Knew ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” With this question, Jesus pointed them directly to His own agency, that of being an agent of His heavenly Father. He also pointed them to His steadfast intent to faithfully act within His agency (the office of an agent) as appointed by His Father.
To abide in His agency, Jesus does not seek His own will. Rather, He seeks His heavenly Father’s will so He may loyally fulfill His Father’s commands. In keeping with His agency then, Jesus only speaks those words and takes those actions His heavenly Father shows Him to say and do. By His example, Jesus has thus shown us what to say and do so that we may be accounted faithful stewards in our agency for fulfilling the stewardship duties God has placed in our care.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Consider, for example, the apostles Jesus Christ called and ordained to His ministry. Jesus’ stated purpose in choosing and ordaining them was so they should go and bring forth fruit—the fruit of His Spirit of truth—to His heavenly Father’s honor and glory and for His purposes.
John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain [on earth and in heaven]; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
With these words, we learn that Jesus decidedly ordained His apostles to be agents of His ministry, and, as Paul wrote, their agency involved the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ by way of the baptism and ministry of the Holy Ghost.
Is it not obvious, then, that Jesus is also intent on all those He calls to labor with Him doing the will of His heavenly Father as intentionally as He does? For only those who endure in the same have the promise of eternal life in His kingdom in the fullness of His Father’s glory.
Matthew 7:30 – Verily I say unto you, it is not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
John 6:44 – No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.
All members of the body of Christ (His church ) are thus called by Him for the express purpose of doing His Father’s will, which is the sanctification of our souls through the reception of His Holy Spirit. In fine, each member of His church is to be His agent, one He chooses and to whom He gives specific callings and unique gifts through the wisdom and power of His Spirit of truth.
I Corinthians 12:4-11 – Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Summarized, all members of Jesus Christ’s church are given their agency within the body of Christ to act in His power in accordance with the will of our heavenly Father. We are therefore not meant to be idle. Rather, as His agents we are charged with the responsibility of acting on behalf of and in the interest of our Lord who has appointed us to be agents, i.e. as those appointed to act within and under His divine will and authority and thus under His divine headship.
Stewardship—Stewardship is the office of a steward. Consider the ministers of Jesus Christ. For instance, every minister is to be an agent of God who holds certain stewardship duties, e.g. to dispense the provisions of the gospel, to preach its doctrines, and administer its ordinances. As agents with unique stewardship responsibilities, every minister must be found faithful to their calling to be judged by the Lord to be a just steward, one worthy of His reward by grace.
I Corinthians 4:1,2 – Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I Peter 4:9,10 – Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
A steward is one who manages the concerns and interests of others, such as in managing the financial matters and property of another person or entity. A prominent example in scripture is Joseph of Egypt, who faithfully managed Potiphar’s and Pharaoh’s property and possessions under God’s direction. Because Joseph was faithful in managing their affairs, God granted him an even greater stewardship, that of his own land, called Joseph’s land, which is the land of Zion.
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See the link above for the remainder of this chapter with references.
Blessings,
Dwight B
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