Tag: steward
Judging faithfulness
Scripture reading for July 10: 1 Corinthians 4
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord Who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Judging our effectiveness and faithfulness to Christ is not possible with our natural senses or abilities. In this passage, Paul instructed the church at Corinth as to how they should view him and his team of evangelists and church planters. They were merely servants of Christ Jesus. They had been entrusted with the mysteries of God and the truths of the Gospel so that they might share them as God enabled them and opened hearts to receive. Sometimes these servants were dragged before courts and charged with sedition against Rome or Jewish religious laws. Paul stated that this was a small thing in comparison to standing before Christ one day.
Paul did not even judge himself! Even though he was not aware of any besetting sin, that did not mean he was guiltless. Only God knows the true condition of our heart. When the Lord Jesus comes again, He alone can bring righteous judgment. The Lord will reward each person for their faithfulness, which is the basis of great stewardship.
Have others in the church judged you for your lack of faithfulness and stewardship? Have you judged yourself as either unworthy or doing a good job? Are you ready to stand before Jesus Who will judge all justly and impartially, exposing hidden motives of the heart?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this word reminding me of my role as a servant and a steward of the Good News of Jesus Christ. I so want to be found faithful in going to those You send me to and in proclaiming Your Gospel. Help me to never judge others, but to rely on Your grace for myself. Amen.
Living in fear!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Matthew 25
“And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of the master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.'” Matthew 25:22-27
When we do not know God from personal experience, we tend to make assumptions about His character. Sin has blinded us and given us a self-centered world view. Jesus, in answering His disciples questions about what it would be like when He returned, told this parable of a master giving property and money to his stewards. One got five talents, one two talents, and one got one talent, each according to their abilities. They were told to do his business. The master went away for an undisclosed time. The stewards each acted on their assignments, some in faith and one in fear.
The master returned and brought these stewards in for an accounting. The one with five had gotten five more. The one with two had gotten two more. Both were commended and rewarded. The one with one talent returned giving back the one talent. His statement revealed his fear of the master and his feeling of the master as a hard man who was unjust in reaping where he did not sow. He hid his talent in the ground and returned it without increase. For this, he lost his position as a steward and was sent away to suffer. This parable is meant to cause us to evaluate our stewardship of the talents God has blessed us with. Are we investing in faith according to God’s instruction in His Word or living in fear?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these clear parables concerning conditions among mankind when Your Son returns. Help me to wisely invest Your talents given to me that I might have increase to offer You when I see You again. I desire to hear You say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Amen.
Are you faithful in the ‘very little?’
Scripture reading for April 1st: Joshua 9-13, Luke 16
Luke 16:10-13 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Faithfulness is the first requirement of a good steward. Jesus said that what we have to manage here on earth is a test of our faithfulness and He considers all earthly wealth as ‘very little.’ Earthly wealth is also ‘unrighteous’ and fleeting. When we leave this earth, nothing will go with us. Scripture also teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil and this might be why Jesus called it ‘unrighteous.’ As a steward we actually serve God, Who owns it all. (The earth is the Lord’s!) The Pharisees were lovers of money and justified themselves concerning their use of it. Jesus reminded them that God knows all hearts and what we justify that’s sinful is an abomination in God’s sight. Not one person can serve both God and money!
Luke 16:14-15 “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the stewardship that you have given me. Forgive me for not always being faithful in the little. Help me to use the money and resources You give me to manage in ways that further Your kingdom. I realize that like the tribe of Levi, You are my priceless Inheritance, my Portion, and my eternal Reward!
Joshua 13:32-33 “These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as He said to them.”
The Lord as final Judge!
Scripture reading for August 30th: 1st Corinthians 4
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 4:1-5 “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, Who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”
Each person is given a ‘conscience’ and has God’s inner witness that their deeds are on target or missing the mark. Paul admonished the believers about being judges of another believer. It is impossible for us as humans to fully know another person and their true motives. In fact, Paul said he couldn’t accurately judge himself. Only God can truly and fairly judge each believer. At the judgement seat of Christ all hidden motives and purposes will come to light. Christ alone is the perfect and final Judge Who never misses truth.
1st Corinthians 4:6 “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for making me a servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. Help me to stay faithful and true to Your Word and avoid the temptation to make judgments of people and their motives. May I set an example for other believers to follow in the power of the Holy Spirit. My highest desire is to be commended by You as my judge.
1st Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God does not consist of talk but in power.”