In 1 Corinthians 4:1 Paul said of himself and Apollos “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” As preachers, Paul and Apollos were stewards of God’s Word. The same is true of any preacher today.
In Paul’s day the master would entrust the steward with the responsibility of feeding the household. The faithful steward would take food from his master’s pantry and feed the household with it. In the same way, God has entrusted the preacher with the responsibility of feeding God’s household. The preacher takes spiritual food from the pantry of God’s Word and feeds the household of God with it.
Jesus asked in Luke 12:42, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations [food] at the proper time?” The preacher (as steward) aims not only feed God’s household, but to share just the right passage at just the right time.