Longer study: Peter- a good steward “Peter: a steward with the ‘special offer’ sign. Going deeper: “Stewards are both a ruler and servant; they exist to please their master.”
Let us get this thing straight, right from the beginning; Peter is a good steward. But anyone who knows of his journey from fishing boat captain to fisher of men understands that Peter’s narrative is one of a flawed character turned good. Peter shifts from a non-listener, a big mouth, an emotionally intense individual to a gifted speaker, wise counsellor, and flexible leader of a new community that we know as the Christian church of Acts. How does he do it? How does he - and how can we - change from being the type of person who leads with their emotions to being a reflective and caring healer who listens with heart and head and who offers willing, serving hands? Here’s the short answer: through painful, arduous surgery performed by his master, Jesus. What type of surgery? It strikes me that it is Peter’s ‘offers’ that reveal the idol that had to be removed. So many times we read of Peter offering to help both Jesus and other men, and together they build up a picture of one who habitually strives to please people. Those offers might look like selfless acts of service, but in truth they are attempts to win favour and respect.