Memorial Day is about remembering those Americans who lost their lives in war. Those of us on this side of life can only say “Thank You” to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to secure and maintain the freedoms we enjoy. It took faithfulness to the cause of freedom for them to have given their lives. However, there is an even greater cause than that of political freedom—the cause of Christ! We can all be encouraged by those we find in Scripture who paid the ultimate price for that cause. Stephen is one such example. The characteristics he displayed will also enable us to live for the Lord, even if that means paying the ultimate price in this life for our faithfulness. Like Stephen, we must be:
Willing to Serve Tables
Stephen first appears in Acts 6. The Jerusalem church was concerned about helping people in need, as should all Christians (James 1:27; Galatians 6:10). As their present situation stood, this church could not see to the needs of the Grecian widows (Acts 6:1). The apostles could not leave their work in “the word of God” to “serve tables” (Acts 6:2). Thus, they told the congregation, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:3-4).
Stephen was among the seven men that the congregation chose (Acts 6:5). He met the qualifications. First, he was of “good reputation [honest report, KJV],” which meant that his peers thought well of his integrity. Second, he was “full of the Holy Spirit.” We know that for Stephen this involved miraculous powers (Acts 6:8). Third, he was “full…of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Stephen was willing to do what many in our day would think is too menial—serve tables! Would we be willing to do this for the cause of Christ? We would if we possessed those same qualifications. We must be of “good reputation” (3 John 12). Although Christians today are not miraculously “filled with the Holy Spirit,” we are still commanded to be “filled with the Spirit,” non-miraculously (Ephesians 5:18). Stephen may have had a miraculous type of wisdom (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8), but we receive our wisdom from asking God (James 1:5). Would our character allow us to “serve tables” if that is what the Lord needed?
A Fearless Teacher of God’s Word
Though he was selected to serve tables, Stephen did not hesitate to take advantage of the opportunities he had to teach others the Word of God. It may have been that his work of serving tables took him among people and that providential opportunities arose for him to teach. His teaching was plain, clear and irrefutable. Even the most learned men of the synagogue “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). As a result of his uncompromising teaching, he met opposition from those who did not like the truth. He was falsely accused and framed.
Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us” (Acts 6:11-14).
Stephen, however, was ready to answer (Acts 6:15), and answer he did! He gave a brief history of God’s people (Acts 6:2-36); he showed that Christ was that Prophet whom Moses said would come (Acts 6:37-38). Further, he showed how the Jews of his day, like their ancestors, had not kept the law (Acts 6:39-53). Christians today must also be fearless teachers of God’s Word. We may not preach publicly, and we may not be “scholars,” but all of us must take advantage of the opportunities we have to teach God’s Word. As parents, we must teach our children God’s Word (Ephesians 6:4). This means, of course, that we must know God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15). No matter what our position in life, it takes courage to teach and live God’s Word. Do we have that courage?
Faithful unto Death
Stephen had spoken the truth, but instead of his hearers being “cut [pricked, KJV] to the heart” and seeking forgiveness as those on Pentecost did (Acts 2:37), “they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). Stephen’s death was a direct result of his preaching. Some preaching puts the listeners to sleep, but with Stephen’s preaching, the listeners put him to sleep—permanently (until Jesus comes again, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Stephen’s preaching affected him personally. He was slandered by false witnesses (Acts 6:13), brought before the High Priest (Acts 7:1), and died a cruel and heartless death (Acts 7:54-60). Stephen’s death affected the church. It brought great sorrow (Acts 8:2), and it caused the church to be “scattered abroad” (Acts 8:3-4; cf., 11:19).
Stephen’s death affected the cause of Christ. All except the apostles left Jerusalem, and what might have seemed like the end of the church resulted in the expansion of the church; they went everywhere, preaching, teaching and planting the church (Acts 8:4)! At his death, there was significance in what Stephen saw and in what he said. He saw “the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56), which showed the concern and involvement of Jesus when His disciples suffer death. Stephen said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59), which showed his complete confidence in Christ, and “Lord, do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60), which showed his Christ-like attitude (cf., Luke 23:34).
Stephen’s death sheds light on Jesus’ statement, “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). This does not simply mean to be faithful until the day we die, but it means be faithful, even if our faithfulness costs us our life! Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him [God] who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Conclusion
Stephen gave his life for the cause of Christ. He stands as an example to us. Do we have the disposition that we would even serve tables if that is what the Lord asked of us? Are we fearless in teaching the Word of God? Are we faithful unto death? May the Lord give us strength to give our lives to Him, to always be willing to do what He says and to “not grow weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9).
