stew·ard·ship
[stoo-erd-ship, styoo-]
ərd
noun
1. the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.
2. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving
(Obtained from Dictionary.com)
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The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world, all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
- Psalm 24:1-2
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
- 1 Corinthians: 6:19-20
Let's start with this: God owns everything. He created it all. The air you breathe, the ground you walk on, the light you see, the very atoms that make you up ... God's.
In this light, I've started re-examining how I treat my spiritual gifts and my physical body. Stewardship is most often used in the context of finance, and financial stewardship is certainly a part of the whole, but it is not the whole picture. We are called to be responsible with our money and to use it wisely, but we are also called to be responsible with our bodies, time, talents, weaknesses, and ... really, anything else you can think of.
God the Father has entrusted us with this time. He has given you the gifts of your spirit and physical realm and they are yours to use as you see fit, but once you are done with them they will be returned to the owner. So, with that in mind what are we to do with the time and talents entrusted to us? Should we bury them out of fear that we will ruin them and anger the owner, or should we try to use them and risk making a mistake? The answer to this question is found in the book of Matthew:
Matthew 25:14-28 tells the parable of the loaned money. Jesus tells a story about a rich master who goes away on a journey. Before he goes, he entrusts three of her servants with a small portion of his treasure. To the first he gives five pieces of gold, to the second two, and to the third one. The man who received the five pieces immediately invested it and he quickly doubled the investment, the man who received the two pieces did the same. The man who received the single piece dug a hole in the ground and hid the money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents brought the other five. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more."
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
The same happened with the second servant who had also doubled the portion given to him. However, when the servant who had been granted the single talent approached:
"Master," he said, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."
The master responded to this by casting the man out, taking his talent and giving it to the man who had five.
We are entrusted with much on this earth. We each have been given specific talents and gifts - each according to our ability - and they are yours to use as you will. Many people choose to live in fear and hide their talents. This seems like the safe thing to do since we cannot ruin what we do not risk, but it is not what God wants you to do with the gifts he has given you. He wants you to grow, he wants you to create, he wants you to build upon the greatness that he has given you. We are responsible for the overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.
One thing to keep in mind: God has granted talents to each of us according to our ability. He did not hand out skills to everyone in the same measure. I've spent a good deal of time looking at the gifts of others and comparing myself to them. When I do this I focus on what I don't have - I focus on how much better the other person is at their talent than I am. I see the man with five talents and envy him instead of being grateful for the two granted to me.
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
- 1 Corinthians 4:7
The thing to realize is that you were granted the talents that you have for a reason. You were designed to use your gifts to the fullest of your ability, and not to worry about the gifts granted to someone else. If you use your talents to their fullest, you will find that you will be full and will have more than enough to do. And, as you prove faithful with the portion given you; the Father will give you more to manage.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (Italics added by me)
How are you managing your talents? How are you caring for the burden allocated to you? Are you looking for ways to invest what you have to produce life? Are you protecting that which God has deemed worth caring for and preserving? If God were to come to you today and ask you to return His gifts would he thank you for your work? If the answer is no, then it is time to turn that around. The Creator of the Universe has placed inside of you gifts unique to you alone. He has given you the mind and body necessary to multiply those gifts.
You were chosen to be the steward of your gifts - God does not make mistakes, so your gifts are perfectly suited to you. If you choose to nurture them they will be fruitful to the Glory of the Lord.
Let the Lord be glorified today!
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