Establishing Foundations: Stewardship

We are in a society that is fast paced, instant, and disposable. If we are not careful, we too, can be caught up into the "throw away" mentality. God requires us to be good stewards of our lives and to live in discipline and accountability. Stewardship covers every area of our lives.

How important are the "extras or leftovers" we have been given? There was a great miracle of the feeding the 5000. When the people had finished, Jesus had them gather up the "leftovers" and they had 12 baskets full (Matt 15:14-20). When he fed the 4000, they once again gathered the remains and it was 7 baskets full (Mark 8:1-9). He then made reference not to the miracle, but to the stewardship of the baskets gathered in Mark 8:19-21.

Jesus was referring to the consistent approach to all things. Seems like stewardship is high on the list. In the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16, we see that we will have to give an account for our stewardship with what we have been entrusted. God will only give to you what you can truly oversee or be trusted with.

We need to take stewardship over our time, money, resources, and what we focus our attention on. Because of our society's mentality, we can get wrong attitudes such as: there is always tomorrow, we can get another one, it is only money, etc. While remodeling this building, it amazed me to see how many unclean paint brushes and rollers were found each night. Even cans of paint were left open, had hardened, and had to be thrown out. This is not good stewardship. Do we take care of our homes like we sometimes take care of God's home?

Why is it so important in these seemingly small things? Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. We are stewards of the Grace of God, 1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. We are also stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Cor. 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Our daily approach in everything we have been given will reflect in our actions concerning the stewardship of what God will give us. He desires to give us more, but like a good father to his children, he will only give what we are mature enough to be able to handle. Your stewardship directly affects your capacity and what you will be given responsibility for.