Stewardship

27 May 2013 by James Hoh CM –

 

Whenever Christians talk about stewardship, they think of ‘money’ but this is far from the truth because it encompasses so much more. But it all started from our mind.   

Yes, it’s all in the mind! Stewardship is simply the understanding and realization that God owns the things that they ‘own’. Indeed they are merely the care-taker of all the things that we supposedly own.

Rev Calvin Lee of Kajang Assembly of God shared about stewardship which was the last part of Spiritual Discipline series of sermons on Sunday. Here is the rest of his message that came as a reminder to some and perhaps news to others: 

God owns everything and He has appointed His children as stewards to take care of them. This includes their lives, their houses, cars, wealth, relationships, marriage, community, state, nation and earth!  

 

 

It is not easy to digest the fact that all that we think we own are not ours after all, no doubt that we have earned these materials with blood and sweat; that we have fought so hard to own these things so that we could be a little more comfortable like our neighbors. Yet the Bible tells us that everything belongs to Him.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

Psalms 24:1

 

Stewardship is a Way of Life

It is an attitude in life and with this attitude we would be able to treat everything with utmost care and consideration. We will have care for our time, material possessions, money, relationships, abilities, physical body, community (politics), governance and the environment in our land. If everyone is to carry this attitude, the world would be a better place to live in.

Joseph (Genesis 39:1-6) is a good steward; he managed and prospered his master’s resources.

But the Parable of the Wicked Manager (Luke 12:42-46) is a bad steward because he failed to exercise diligent management of the resources entrusted to him.   

 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Luke 12: 42-46

 

Stewardship of Our God-given Land

Taking care of our land is also our responsibility. It is more than the parameter of the house we stay in as it encompasses the state, country and earth that we live in.    

In addition, we are stewards of relationships and people in this world. This includes our relatives, friends, neighbors and even strangers. The world would be a better place to live in as soon as we realize this truth.

 

Stewardship of Our God-given Time 

Time flies. We have very limited time for everything. So as wise stewards we need to rethink what God wants us to do intentionally and strategically for His Kingdom. One way to find out what God wants us to do is to spend time with God first.

 

 

There is an appropriate time for everything in God’s perfect time.

¹     There is a time for everything, and a season for activity under the heavens. 

²     a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³     a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and

a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

 

 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

a. God is concerned with how we spend our time.

b. We are to be intentional about how we spend our time.

c. How we use the time that has been given to us through the filter of the Scriptures and prayers.

d. Think strategically about how we will spend the moments, hours, and days of our (God-given) time.

 

Stewardship of Our God-given Money

Naturally, if we have the right view that we are stewards, we would not have trouble paying tithes.

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 

Luke 16: 10-11

 

We cannot be trusted with temporal things like money how are we going to be trusted with eternal spiritual things. Therefore, money is, in four simple terms:

a) Money is a Trust.

b) Money is a Tool for greater good.

c) Money is a Test, for God test us with little before giving us more to handle.

d) Money is Thermometer for it measures our spiritual lives and commitment to God.

 

 

Something to Remember

Jesus’ radical decision of giving His life for us is the greatest example of stewardship and commitment.

As stewards of God, therefore, it is our decision and commitment to reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. Are we good stewards of what God has given us?

 

Dear Viewers in Christ, if you find this article edifying to you, please share with your friends or loved ones by using the social media plugs (Share, Email to this article). The Lord will surely bless you as you bless others. May the Lord’s peace and love be with you. Amen.  

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