So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
The term steward is one of those churchy terms, the definition is “one who manages or looks after”. A “good steward” therefore, means someone who handles or manages something well.
For a long time, I thought being a good steward was someone who saved their money and was very frugal and well prepared for the future. I’ve talked to people who say, oh, we have this much money in the bank and/or that much in our 401K and when we retire we are going to be living really well. I remember thinking “I am such a poor steward.”
In asking myself …”what is a good steward” and studying the scriptures, I have a little different view now.
Stewarding is about far more than money. “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:17.
Everything good that we have is from God. Money, relationships, time, His Word, our possessions, our skills, our talents, even the number of our days here on earth…all are gifts from Him and more importantly, they are to be used for His purposes and glory. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” 1 Peter 4:10.
We are to use what God has given us for His glory. That doesn’t mean we are all called to give everything that we have to the poor and live in cardboard boxes. But we are not to horde it either. Wealth is not something that we should strive for unless our desire is to more to give more of it away and to use for the good works He prepared before hand for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
I think that I have mentioned, before, the baseball ministry that my husband and I were given by God. We often entertained the players in our old, diamond in the rough, home. One afternoon, while we had supper at the house with two of the ball players, one of the young men said “can I ask you a question, without upsetting you?” My husband and I indicated that he could and he asked “why don’t you take all the money that you spend on all of us ball players and fix up your house?” I told him that I have a mansion in heaven waiting on me, I don’t need one here. (In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2).
Sometimes being a good steward means going without some of the creature comforts of this world. Sometimes it means giving up some of the things that we desire. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-31)But we should always be in prayer about where God would desire us to use His resources and we should have confidence in His promises to provide for our needs. (And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19)
As Americans, we live in excess in just about every area of our lives. There are some who have very little, yet compared to those in 3rd world countries, would be considered wealthy. Regardless of the magnitude or lack of our wealth, we are to be good stewards of what God has given us. Maybe that means that the great singing voice that we have should be used for worship songs at church (instead of singing music that doesn’t bring God glory and honor), perhaps we have time to spare after work that could be used at the food pantry or to help clean the church (instead of watching television), Maybe we have been given the spiritual gift of evangelism and we should be using that to tell people about the incredible love of Jesus.
We will have all of eternity to worship God, we will only have this short life to glorify Him and draw people to Him. “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4
I pray that today we would be mindful that every good gift we have is from our Loving Heavenly Father. I pray that we would be more aware than ever of how short this life is and how important it is for us to glorify God and allow Him to use us and those resources that He has given us to rescue those currently destined for hell. As Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approach I pray that we would be sacrificial in meeting the needs of those whom God puts in our lives, because He desires that we would minister to the lost, lonely, poor and weary. (Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:34-40). Let’s use all that He has given us to glorify Him and minister to others.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, and if you do not know the incredible love of a Heavenly Father that would provide so bountifully for our needs and who desires that we would meet the needs of others, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outline there. Once you have, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and help you to grow in your, knowledge of and, relationship with our precious savior Jesus Christ.
Luv Ya!
