We are Stewards of the Ministry
This is my third and hopefully my final attempt to write this one. I’d like to know why this subject has been so challenging this week. Maybe one day I will know for sure. This is nothing new to me, and it may ruffle some feathers. Regardless, we will push on. Here it is in short, as Jesus’ followers, we should seek to be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasures in a way that honors God—remembering that everything we have is a gift from our wonderful and gracious Heavenly Father—the God of light and life. (See James 1:17)
What is a steward? A simple definition of stewardship is conducting, supervising, or managing—taking the careful and responsible management of what is entrusted to their care. We must take care of ourselves, our marriages, families, friendships, and the church, as faithful servants. Paul writes, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1–2) Notice we are not required to be found successful but faithful.
Healthy stewardship should start with thankfulness. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:18) Why would we take care of something we do not care about? When we have stewardship over anything, it is a gift and responsibility from God—starting with ourselves. We should be ever thankful for all we have and diligently care for all God has entrusted us with. What would we have left if we woke up tomorrow with only what we were thankful for today? If we would suffer loss, what does that say about our stewardship?
Being thankful is good and right, but we must also be faithful. Countless people seek to be successful or popular in this life. Yet, being found loyal to what God has entrusted us with as stewards must be considered the priority before success. Jesus said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” (Luke 16:10a). Showing our fidelity to God in what others may measure as insignificant before He opens the doors to the extraordinary is just right. Be faithful in the little things. Details matter to God, for we are called to be faithful stewards of our lives, not just the ministry. Responsibility is entrusted to faithful stewards, and they receive the reward. (2 Timothy 2:2)