In the first four parts of this Being Wise series, we defined wisdom (here), and then we looked at the application of wisdom in the spheres of taking initiative (here), in making peace (here), and in choosing our words (here).
In the final part of this series, let us consider applying God’s wisdom in our stewardship – you know, those things that we have been given, for proper caretaking.
You’ll recall that God first gave us stewardship over the entire planet. (Gn. 1:26 & 2:15).
Jesus also addressed stewardship many times in His parables, that is, those simple stories He told the people of His time, to illustrate moral or spiritual lessons. In one of them, He tells the story of a vineyard owner, who hires a group of workers to harvest his grapes.
Four more times during the day, the owner of the vineyard hired other groups to work as well. Then, Jesus relates:
“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’” Mt. 20:8 NKJV
When the laborers hired in the beginning of the day, saw that they were paid the same as those that came later, they became upset because they didn’t get more money for working longer – even though they had originally contracted themselves out for the wages that they received. They were in effect, questioning the benevolent grace of the owner.
When Jesus began this parable, He said that it was alluding to the kingdom of heaven, especially to illustrate God’s stewardship of His own grace, i.e. that you can depend on God’s grace, but the nature of the allotment of it, is His own affair.
Likewise, the first laborers did not show compassion for their fellow workers, all of whom would have had no work, if not for the generosity of the vineyard owner. They were too consumed with their own self-interest.
Thus, we should take joy in God’s graciousness, with thankfulness, and model the vineyard owner in our stewardship when giving grace to others…
Jesus also told us to be good stewards with regards to our ‘righteous readiness’ – that is, to watch over and cultivate our godly walk, so that we are ready when He returns:
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like the men who are waiting for their master to come home…so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants…You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Lk. 12:35, 36. ESV
Christ brings us yet another example, this time telling a parable to His apostles that alludes to the stewardship of wealth:
“There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that that this man was wasting his goods.” Lk. 12:42 NKJV
Jesus goes on to say that the rich man fired his steward. So, not wanting to live in poverty, the steward immediately contacted all of the rich man’s debtors and struck discount deals to settle their debt – pleasing the rich man. However, the driving motivation of the steward was to put the debtors in a place where they owed him a favor. He thought to live off of them.
Jesus turns to the apostles and says:
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” Lk. 16:9 – 11. NLT
Managing wealth can be fraught with difficulty. The money isn’t the problem. It is the idolization of it:
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Tim. 6:10 NLT
The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. Eccl. 5:10 CSB
Anyone trusting in his riches will fall… Pr. 11:28 CSB
There is a great responsibility in being a godly steward of money, because it is a gift from God:
“…remember that the LORD your God gives you the power to gain wealth…” Dt. 8:18 CSB
Money can be a good thing – bringing freedom to enjoy some of the good things the world has to offer, to provide for your family, and allowing you to grace the more unfortunate.
In fact, God wants you to derive pleasure from His gift, and it pleases Him when you do:
And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. Eccl. 3:13 NLT
Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. Ps. 25:27 NKJV
Jehovah loves you so much. You don’t have to worry, there is no limit to His provisions:
And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19 CSB
Limitless, yes; but like with anything concerning God, you have to do your best to remain in right relationship with Him in order to receive His grace:
“If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.” Job 36:11 NLT
Again, money cannot be your focus; you focus should always be on Him. Then the good things will come:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal.” Mt. 6:19, 20. NLT
“…the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mk. 4:19 CSB
The bottom line is to use your wealth in His service; yes, more godly stewardship, and you will have more than enough. We begin by serving God Himself first:
“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the LORD of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” Mal. 3:10 CSB
After all, the church is the outstretched arms of God. When we tithe, we both show our faith in His largesse and we leverage the church’s effectiveness.
You can be His arms as well:
…if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. The LORD will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry. Is. 58:10, 11. CSB
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Pr. 25:21 NKJV
You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Cor. 9:7 NLT
You can’t out give God. You will be blessed for your generosity:
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you give back.” Lk. 6:38 NLT
Finally, Jehovah God asks us to be to be a good steward of His gospel:
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Cor. 4:2 NKJV
Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward., but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 1 Cor. 9:16, 17. ESV
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 1 Pt. 4:10 CSB
We have a big part to play, we stewards of God. And for all that, our Creator loves us for all time:
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Gal. 6:8 NLT
Amen.
Goodnight and God bless.
