Reflecting on Stephanas’ example, part two. Read the first part here.

Now brothers, I ask you the following (…you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints, that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. 1 Corinthians 16: 15,16)

Secondly, we can clearly understand that his household “devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints”[1.] It wasn’t asked of them, they offered themselves – that’s why it say’s they “devoted themselves.” No one consecrated them or introduced that work to them. They simply saw the need and took the initiative to serve. Obviously, this initiative was well received by Paul and his friends. It wasn’t an act of rebellion or self-exaltation on Stephanas’ part, or to give himself a position in the church, not at all. It was a sincere readiness to help. That’s why Paul blessed his initiative.

His actions showed the spirit of a servant, inside this recently converted man.

Think about the things around you at the moment. How many needs can you identify? How many lost people are there, going to hell? How many young adults loosing themselves in the world? How many weak members in the church? How many marriages falling apart? How many out there living in sin and self-harming themselves? How many depressed and empty people without God are there? How many need a word of life and direction?

If you’re not being useful, it’s because you don’t want to be, because the need is much bigger than the number of servants.

Many speak about wanting an opportunity to do the work of God; others even search for “an opportunity” (those who used to serve, but gave up.) Yet with so much to do in and out of the church, so many people suffering, how can we complain about an opportunity? Those who speak like this are really only after a position.

The ones who truly serve don’t need a position. The position of Stephanas came only after he devoted himself to the service, not before. It was only after he served that Paul endorsed Stephanas’ ministry. Authority and anointing only come after serving, not before. That’s why the Lord Jesus said that the greatest would serve the least.

Don’t wait to be called to serve. Here is your opportunity now.

Conclusion:

There are two types of people who read this message the ones already converted and the ones who still are not.

To both these people, the Holy Spirit is asking through the example of Stephanas:

What are you waiting for?

What are you waiting for to convert?

And those who are converted, what are you waiting for to serve?

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[1] The word “saints” refers to the Christians, not the images of people made of wood and so on. Saint means separated, that’s why the Christians were called saints, because they separated themselves from the world, to serve God.