"Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all." (1 Chronicles 29:11).
Roles and Responsibilities of a Steward
A steward, a servant, a manager, a custodian, a curator, a caretaker or any combination thereof represents titles or labels assigned to one who has been entrusted with, or who has been delegated a role or responsibility for exercising stewardship or industry. This was both illustrated and instituted by God subsequent to the creation of man (Adam). God instructed Adam to use the abilities He equipped him with, to take care of and devote time and attention to being fully committed to responding to the needs of the Garden of Eden. Needless to say, Almighty God is the rightful owner, possessor, creator and sustainer of all and everything: "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2:15).
In other words, Adam was put in charge of the garden of Eden for the express purpose of working and serving, which are fundamental in the concepts of industry or stewardship. And this epic and historic event in the Bible resulted in the birth of these necessary acts of service. God's original script of stewardship remains in full force and effect, even today, and since the very beginning.
To embellish on what I previously expressed, God is the sole operator and overseer of the universe, and He owns it and everything in it. That includes the resources and guidance He provides for its efficient utilization and conscientious care of its content. As a faithful steward of such resources, the act of a fully and uncompromising commitment to this calling is compulsory. Blessings are realized and God receives the glory He so richly deserves. "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).
A Case Study of Stewardship
As Kingdom people; that is, members of the household of faith or followers of Christ, we have all been entrusted to faithfully steward such resources as money, time, property, talent, care or concern for others and our physical and spiritual Health. Note that these identify methods and means of rendering acts of service to others by practicing the art of self-denial: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24).
Our glorious and great God and savior (Colossians 2:9), Jesus Christ, makes His Word available to all. His wise and eternal Word has the power to transcend reformation and bring about a transformation, resulting in humiliation, meekness and selfless sacrifice. In order to realize the value of serving Him and others both earnestly and effectively, His Word teaches and reminds us: "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me; Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens." (Luke 9:23; Proverbs 27:23-27).
A life of loyal devotion to Christ, is a life dedicated to serving others. Remember, along with us, even the foregoing resources are owned by the Lord, and both are on loan to us. "for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20). Of course, Paul the apostle embellishes on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth of the gospel of Christ: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord; Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;" (1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 1:25).
In the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), Jesus tells a short story of laborers who are given equal pay for their services, and over the course of a day. Each agreed to the rate of one penny for a day's wages. What captures one's curiosity in this scene is that select groups of servants were employed at various times during the same day. For example, the first group was called at around the rising of the sun, and the remaining groups were called at 9 A.M., noon, 3 P.M. and 5 P.M. respectively.
At the end of the work day, the Owner instructed His steward to reward them for services rendered, beginning with the last group and ending with first group that was called. Again, each was paid a penny. Well, needless to say, the first to be hired were outraged and began to complain to the Owner of the vineyard. They believed that they were justified in complaining because of the amount of time they had invested, and the effort they had expended.
Well, the moral of the story is this: Kingdom riches are not earned on the basis of works and self-serving tendencies, but granted on the basis of love, grace and self-less sacrificial service. The teachings of Christ offers us further instruction and the following spirit-filled message, as He conveys the truth of His wise counsel: "But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." Matthew 20: 13-16).
Paul the apostle puts us all on notice with respect to this notion of an uncompromising commitment to a life of service to the one true God. Note the tone of his message as he illustrates faithfulness, obedience and spiritual insightfulness: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 4:7). Furthermore, as faithful stewards of God's grace, the apostle Peter urges us to mutually, joyfully and passionately serve one another! The investment in such an immense responsibility guarantees both spiritual and physical returns on that investment: "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter 4:10).
In addition, the Apostle Paul even further solidifies and clarifies this notion as he states: "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Paul is not suggesting that our physical health is not to be neglected, but in maintaining and being caretakers of our physical health, we must maintain a healthy perspective concerning its true, but limited value. No doubt, and as he alluded to the following message to his son in the faith, Timothy: "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6).
Conclusion
My beloved, I am humbled and abundantly and inexpressibly grateful for the honor and privilege of composing and disseminating today's message. In the absence of the everlasting love and saving grace of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ, this labor of love would not have come to fruition. Of course, and it goes without saying that Jesus sets the standard in terms of the subject matter of STEWARDSHIP; and thus, I close with a thing or two to think about, and from the pen of Paul the apostle: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).
We have nothing or anything in our possession or otherwise, or anything that we do, think or say for that matter, to boast, brag or glory about. To God be the glory...! (Psalm 29:2). Thus, I conclude with one of the most thought-provoking, inspiring and unforgettable examples in the Bible, wherein Jesus demonstrates the true essence of STEWARDSHIP: "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:12-17).
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