Devotion - Faithful Steward
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Story: In the book Second Calling, Dale Bourke writes that years ago, she attended a conference. When it was over, her friend Bruce offered her a ride to the airport. As they were about to leave, another man asked if he could join them. As they drove away from the hotel, she and Bruce asked the man where he worked, and he mentioned a Christian organization. Bruce said, “I have fond memories of that group, because I attended a retreat of theirs one time, and that’s where I became a Christian. It was in 1972 in New Hampshire.” Bruce went on to explain that eventually his whole family became Christians and went into Christian work. His sister was a Wycliffe missionary and Bruce himself became publisher of a major Christian publishing house, which brought many significant Christian books to the public. Bruce finished the story with a flourish saying that the retreat had had worldwide impact when you think about it. The man was silent. Dale and Bruce thought that maybe they were boring him. Then the stranger quietly said, “I led that retreat. It was my first time as a conference leader, and I felt like a total failure. Until this moment, I have always believed it was one of the biggest failures of my life.” Dale Bourke wrote, “What had seemed like the simple act of offering a ride to a stranger had turned into a powerful reminder that God uses our efforts whether we realize it or not. I may spend the rest of my life doing things that don’t seem at all successful. Yet only God knows the purpose and all that He is doing through them. I am called simply to be faithful.”
Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
Point: Right now, you may feel like a failure in what you’re doing. Just be faithful. It’s not your job to figure out if what you do (or what you did in the past) matters. That’s the work of the Spirit. Your job is to do your part. Doing what we are called to do is the point.
Point: God is not as concerned with our ability, as He is with our availability. He can take our shortcomings and work them out for His glory. Often without our even being aware of it.
Availability is a form of faithfulness.
Availability to oversee a task that may seem way over our heads, or way below our gifting’s, position or self image.
Making available the resources he puts into our hands. (vehicle, $, time, our gifting / profession).
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
It is what stewardship is all about. Managing it well under His direction.
If we love God and are seeking His purpose, He will take even our mistakes and make them work for our good and the good of His kingdom. Even circumstances that are solely to show us how He was working through us, to encourage us.
It is what stewardship is all about. Managing it well under His direction.
It is what stewardship is all about. Managing it well under His direction.