In the Scriptures there are many accounts of stewardship, a person who is entrusted of someone else’s property, from the vineyard, (Matt. 20) to a rich man, (Luke 12) to the sad example in Matt. 18:23-34. These are just three in only the New Testament, the accounts are from beginning to end, starting with Adam and his responsibility to care for the garden, we are to continue in this example, for we have been commanded to be good stewards of what we have been given. Everything in your possession is a gift from God, and should be treated as such, some gifts, in a sense, are more valuable than others, you hopefully do not put the same value on your children as you do your silverware, though one is much easier to maintain.
The stewardship we have been given is a great responsibility, for we tend to that which is not ours, but belongs to Almighty God, if you have a vehicle that is barely running, a toaster that only works half the time, or even an errant child, you are to do all within your power to maintain these gifts, for they are Gods. It is sad to say, but many times it is true, the furthest our stewardship goes for many is only in the material world, the things of the temporal, the things that will not last, save for the care and concern of those we love, the souls of people are the only thing that will last throughout eternity, all else will perish. We are not wasting our time by attending to those materialistic possessions, but they should not be the priority of your life, there are much greater items to tend to. “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19)
Again though, we bypass the important for the immediate, many will spend countless hours taking care of the flesh, from the morning makeup routine to the diligently performed exercise program, we steward over that which is temporal more than that which is eternal, we look in the mirror more than in our souls, and it is the heart that God looks upon my friends. It should be quite easy for you to determine just what is most important to you, for that which we tend to the most is most valuable to us, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21) Time is an essential stewardship item, for you have been allotted only so much of it, and in this you and I will most definitely be held accountable, we will give an answer for the use of this life. Was it spent in fellowship with Christ, or on the cell phone, was it spent in front of the television, or in the Word of God, the things that you concern yourself the most with are the things that prove to yourself and others where your values lie. We are eternal by the grace of God, we will live forever, either in the presence of the Lamb or in the fires of hell, you will never know an end to your existence, so then, this stewardship should first and foremost be placed in its proper order, the One who has given life to all is to be the main purpose to our lives, our sole reason for existing is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, if it is not, than all of your other stewardship positions have been a waste of your time.
Vacuuming the house, fixing the car, even tending to the needs of others has been nothing more than a way to pass the time if it has not been done to the glory of God. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17) While it is true that those who have been good stewards in a little will receive greater responsibilities, (Luke 19:17) do not think that because you mow the yard well that He is going to send you into the mission field to preach His Word, the treasure of your heart is not to be focused on the temporal, but on the eternal, it is to be focused on Christ. Those who waited for the bridegroom until midnight waited patiently, (Matt. 25:6) they were good stewards over their lamps, they did not have anything of more value to do, no matter how long He tarried, than to tend to that which would enable them to be profitable servants for He who was coming.
We have been commanded to do many things in the Scriptures, but our lives are our own, we can do with them as we please, it is the heart that loves the Lord that serves with gladness, it is the one that has placed his priorities of stewardship in their proper perspectives that will know joy, it is the servant who serves in the right order who will be seen as profitable.
