BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS

Read Matt. 25:14-30.

Stewardship is an important biblical word and vital Christian concept. Unfortunately many Christians today only associate stewardship with the work of the two people in charge of the church finance and administration. However, God places high regard on stewardship, and He expects His people to become faithful stewards as well.

                                                                                                                                           

Who is a steward?

A steward is one who has been given the responsibility to manage or care for someone or something. He’s not the owner but the caretaker, administrator or manager. As a result, the steward is accountable to the actual owner. Stewardship then requires wisely employing abilities, talents and the material resources to responsibly take care of the owner’s property.

Why is the Christian a steward?

The Bible says that God is the owner of everything and He gives humanity a stewardship to care for and manage his gifts as long as we live on this earth. 

As Christians, God requires us to be faithful stewards of all that He gives us (1 Corinthians 4:2). As stewards of Christ we have been entrusted not only with various material possessions, but also with time, talents, and opportunities, as well as all the blessings of His glorious gospel. We are in fact “the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (I Corinthians 4:1).

But why be faithful in stewardship?

God’s word reminds us that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12); 2Corin. 5:10). 1Corin. 3:13 says “our works shall be tried with fire”. The test of our works is not one of quantity, but quality. Faithful stewardship is therefore necessary because:

1. God owns everything

Psalm 24 starts with, “The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” In the beginning, God created everything and put Adam in the Garden to take care of it and that is the beginning of our stewardship of all of the creations of God. God owns everything; we are simply managers or administrators acting on his behalf. We have to therefore be faithful caretakers.

2. Our role of responsibility.

Although God gives us “all things richly to enjoy,” nothing is ours. Owners have rights; stewards have responsibilities. We are called as God’s stewards to manage that which belongs to God. We are responsible to manage his holdings well and according to his desires and purposes. E.g. why destroy the earth? Why be irresponsible in managing what is God’s- like the servant who hid his talent?

3. There is a day of accountability.

Like a Manager accounting to his board, we as God’s stewards entrusted with His resources, abilities and opportunities will one day be called to give an account of how we have managed what the Master has given us. This is the moral taught by the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25). Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, we will give account of how we have administered everything we have been given, including our time, money, abilities, information, wisdom, relationships, and authority. We will all give account to the rightful owner as to how well we managed the things he has entrusted to us. Are you ready? Start putting things together because the time is near.

4. There is a day for reward.

In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul writes: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ”. The Bible shows us in the parables of the Kingdom that faithful stewards who do well with the master’s resources will be rewarded. We all should long to hear the master say what he exclaims in Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant! (Revelation 22:12) says…..to give every man according as his work shall be”.

How to be a faithful steward

1.    Vigilance: A vigilant steward is to be watchful, alert, attentive and awake in every aspect of life. These areas include our time, our possessions, our health and our relationships with God and man. Like the servant who got the least talent, he wasn’t vigilant to know how to turn around his small talent. As a leader, what do you do when the fellowship is dwindling? You sit down and watch? As a parent, do you neglect your responsibilities to the family?

2.   Let’s cut out all the time wasters- watching a sports event, unnecessary friends, or doing anything else that occupies our time when our prayer and Bible study have been left undone, leads to poor stewardship and management of our time. Know that there is a time for accountability you don’t know when? Use the times fruitfully to manage the resources given because you cannot gain time lost.

3.   Bible study (2Tim. 3:16-17, Rom. 15:4); Pray for strength from the lord (Eph. 6:18); Holy Spirit for help, counseling, power, etc. (John 16:13-15); Depend on Christ (Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").  (Read 1Corin. 15:10- seek God’s grace in labour; 2Corin.12:7- accept challenges as God’s discipline).

Finally

Have you being a good steward? As Christians, we need to see stewardship beyond church accounts or building projects (though at times important). We have to be faithful stewards of all God has given us within the opportunities presented us to further His Kingdom. Are you faithful worker, at home as a wife/husband, as a student or you are part of the mismanagement group?

May the Holy Spirit help us to be faithful stewards so that when the Lord appears in His glory, He will find us faithful and say Matt. 25:23?  Amen!