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!
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