A stewardship-task

Right from the beginning, when God created mankind, he made them his servants and stewards. People were given the task of ruling, protecting, cultivating and developing the earth in accordance with God’s plan. Man was to represent God and look after his interests, by ruling on his behalf and by being a steward of all creation to the glory of God. Unfortunately we have been poor stewards of God’s property but that has not changed God’s plan.

Jesus made it very clear in his teaching that God still wants to work through people. Even today we have a steward’s responsibility for our abilities and for all that belong to us. Jesus told parables to emphasise our responsibility (see Matt.25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).

Some servants had pounds or talents dealt out to them to trade with. After a while the boss came back to check his servants’ accounts. He wanted to know how they had managed the money. One of the servants had hidden the money that he had been given to manage and he gave back exactly what he had received. His boss disliked this very much as he expected at least to get interest on his money. The other servants had been good stewards and gave back twice as much as they had been given. Therefore the Lord praised them with these words:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” (Matt.25:21)

Jesus expects us to be faithful in our handling of money.

Jesus taught that his disciples should be faithful stewards, of both their own and others’ money. In fact, he made our attitude to money a test of our character and said that if we failed here we should not share in the true riches, which are spiritual.

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 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. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:9-12)

Our earnings represent our lives

Through our work we earn money and acquire possessions. We use the abilities and strength we have to create prosperity, for ourselves, our families and the whole of society. Money and possessions are a result of the effort we put into our lives and they represent our lives.

Our submission to the Lord will always show itself in the surrendering of our material goods to him. The place Jesus has in our lives is indicated by the way in which we use our money and our possessions. We can also say that our diligence and eagerness at work show our devotion to Jesus. Since he has given us life and values us so highly that he was willing to die for us, we want to use to the full all that he has given us, for his glory.

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Prov.10:4)

For even when we were with you we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. (2 Thess.3:10-12)

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.(Eph.4:28)

A Christian is a good and industrious worker, he is not one who just works when watched to please men, but he is one who willingly and honestly does his work for the Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian is one who has a greater motivation for his work than just earning a living for himself and his family. A Christian works also to honour Jesus and so that he may have something to give to those who need help. John Wesley is supposed to have said, “Earn as much money as you can. Use as little as possible on yourself; give as much as possible for the expansion of God’s kingdom”

Exercise:

Make a list of some of the material things you have been given to steward.

Continue to memorise and add this Bible verse:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)