Childhoods are littered with pinky swears and “cross-my-hearts” as secrets are shared and promises are extracted to keep them confidential. As one child conveys their dreams and crushes to another, they are entrusting their friend with news that they want to keep private. In fact, most of the time when we think of an entrustment we think of something that is supposed to be protected. We deposit money in a bank because we trust that they will keep it until we need it. We obtain safes to guard our most valuable possessions. When we trust someone or some institution with something that is ours we are doing so in the hopes that it will not be given to another.
However, God has entrusted us with something for the expressed purpose of giving it away. He has given us the gospel of salvation, not to keep it to ourselves but to share it with others. Unlike other entrustments, our task is to broadcast this news far and wide. Our goal should be for as many people to hear it as possible.
Unfortunately, we often treat the Gospel more like schoolyard secrets. We are reluctant to broach the topic of eternity with another afraid that we might somehow offend them. We are reticent to discuss salvation because we fear the questions we may not be able to answer. Instead of freely sharing the gift that we have been given, we are content to keep it confidential, only partially admitting to ourselves that as we do so, we are complicit in the condemnation of others.
However, we would do well to remember what Paul wrote about what it means to be entrusted with the Gospel. According to I Thessalonians 2:4 the reason that they were given the message of salvation is because they were found to be “approved by God.” Knowing about repentance and faith isn’t simply a gift then, but a responsibility. We have been approved by God for the good work of sharing His message with others. It is an honor that we should not take lightly, it is a task we should not neglect.
So the next time someone asks you to keep something “just between us” let us remember the message that God has expressly commanded that we not keep to ourselves (Mt. 28:16-20). Let’s be diligent with sharing what He has entrusted us with that many more may come to know Him.