Gtcotr/ws071013
“Steward” means: Manager; superintendent; overseer; (In the sense of
one who assists the owner of a farm to manage the household or oversee the
fields, and to deal out the proper portion to servants and even children of the
owner who are not yet of age.)
From
the time we are born to the time we die, each one of us is but a pilgrim
traveler on a journey through this world which God created and still owns.
Every person comes into this world naked and powerless over their tomorrows. As
it is with birth so shall it be with death, each one of us finds ourselves at
the mercy of things beyond our control. It is strikingly evident that we are
only passing through this world and in need to borrow from the owner of this
world everything necessary to this life.
When
considering the rich, King Solomon said:
Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came
from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall
take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand.
In
Job’s most difficult days, having gone from great wealth to deep poverty, he
considered:
Job 1:21 And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The
LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."
You
see, God owns everything and He lends each person the use of things they need
to accomplish the work to which God has designed them. From the days we spend
on earth to the goods we might store up in hopes to pass them on to others,
everything belongs to the Lord. In fact, God owns our very life. He is the
owner and we are His stewards. How we manage what He lends us seems to be of
great importance to Him.
Key Scripture: 1
Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required
in stewards that one be found faithful.
Faithfulness
is the single character quality most necessary for stewards. (Faithful to
represent the owner’s wishes and not follow the goals or desires of the steward)
Jesus
gives insight concerning the rewards of our stewardship responsibilities in the
account of Matthew 25 and Luke 12. To some God will say:
Matthew 25:21 “… Well done, good and faithful servant …”
While
to others God will say:
Matthew 25:26 “… You wicked and lazy servant …”
Luke 12
20 "But God said to him,
’Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?’
21 "So is he who
lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and
wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to
give them their portion of food in due season?
It
is required of a steward that a man be found faithful to the owner’s wishes and
the owner’s goals and not to just their own enrichment. Everything over which
we have control belongs to God. God allows us their use and enjoyment but
certainly has a multipurpose plan which He intends we follow. Each one of us
are stewards of this manifold grace of God.
What we do with what we have reveals who we are and what we believe.
We
often think of stewardship in terms of managing someone else’s money. Although
the Bible does speak plainly to us about how God wants us to manage the money
He lets us oversee for Him while on planet earth, God also has other valuables
which are worth far more than His money.
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man
so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
We
are the assistants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God which have
been hidden from others. We are stewards of truth.
God
has supplied each one of His Children with enough salt and light to supply the
world in their generation. It is our responsibility as Born Again Believers in
Jesus to be good stewards of this grace. We have been given the keys to the
Kingdom of God and have free access to the manifold blessings of God and
because of this, it is our New Creation Responsibility to take what we have
received and represent God to others.
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Important Points
1.
We came to this life with nothing and so shall we depart.
2.
Everything belongs to God, we are stewards of His grace.
3.
What we do with what we have reveals who we are and what we believe.
4.
We will give an account to God for how we use the Time, the Talent, and
the Treasury He has lent to us.
5.
It is required of a steward that one be found faithful.
Supporting Scriptures
Galatians 4
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he
is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the
time appointed by the father.
Titus 1
7
For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not
quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money.
