Stewarding Life, Part 2

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

The Responsibilities of a Steward

The steward’s office is one of responsibility. The Master entrusts to him the care of some or all of his resources, goods, people, tools, or property.

He is a servant and no more.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ....

—1 Corinthians 4:1

The first responsibility we see is the responsibility of a servant.

He is not a servant out of necessity or duty. He is a servant because it is his job, his responsibility. We can shirk it, but it remains our responsibility to minister. The word minister here means under-rowers.

Think of the Roman ships called galleys that were used across the Mediterranean. They were powered by men, slaves who would were expendable and expected to give complete obedience. In fact, they were most often chained to the oar which they rowed.

In this we find a great reminder, the mission for which we are ministers is much greater than any one man except for Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:10 KJV 1900

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

We have only a small part to play in God’s plan, but an essential one. We are to propel the Gospel ship forward into battle, trusting in our Lord and Master.

He is under the Master’s command.

1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Next, the steward is under the Master’s command in all things.

The wise steward is one who will go to his Master early in the day and receive his orders for the day. To know the will of the Master is to the wise steward a relief from the stress of figuring things our for himself.

The steward must remember that the Master owns the goods, the house, and all the resources placed at the steward’s disposal. It would never be appropriate for the steward of a household to utilize the resources there for his benefit only. The wise steward would understand that what is good for the Master is good for the servants.

He who does his own will, and not his Master’s, is of no value as a steward. — C.H. Spurgeon

He is to give account.

While following the order’s of his master, the steward is to give account in all things.

Any businessman is required to keep accounts of all his transactions and business decisions. The steward of God should be no different. The best way to keep accounts is to do them as you go along. I keep a budget at home, and there’s nothing worse than having two months of transactions to enter into your budget; it’s very tedious. Much better is to keep accounts current. That’s also important in relationships, and it is essential in stewarding for the Lord. When we sin, we must address it immediately. We must constantly question ourselves as to our efforts in stewarding for the Master. Questions like: Am I investing in studying God’s Word? Am I growing as a Christian? Am I spending sufficient time in prayer? Am I relying on God’s wisdom or my own?

Keep short accounts with God, and be an open book to men. God’s Word says, “Let a man so account of us....” In other words, somebody looking at our lives should have no cause to question our stewardship of the grace and gifts that God has placed in our care.

In Luke 16 you find a sad situation. A steward who is being careless enough that he is called into question by his master.

Luke 16:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

In the same way that we would want to be above reproach if we handled another person’s money, we should be above reproach in handling God’s resources.

He is a trustee of His Master’s goods.

The next responsibility of the steward is to be a trustee of his master’s goods.

This requires one great realization:

God owns, I possess.

God has given every one of us life, time, health, energy, thoughts, trials, resources, friendships, family, influence, testimony, and has entrusted us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are not our own, but God’s provisions placed in our care.

1 Corinthians 4:7 KJV 1900

7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

A wise steward is to make sure that there is an increase in his Master’s stock. We ought to invest in developing the gifts God has given us. It is not selfish to make the most of what abilities God has given. If you come to a place where busyness, stress, and work have made you a less spiritual person, then you are not stewarding the way you should. Often, something must be eliminated from your life to make room for spiritual growth.

Paul was under the constant reminder that something special was his to take care of.

1 Timothy 1:11 KJV 1900

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Being a trustee is not exciting. All it means is that a document with instructions has been entrusted to you, and you are to make sure its instructions are followed. We must be sure to follow our instructions; that is why we are studying this topic.

He is a distributor of his Master’s goods.

More than being a trustee, the faithful steward is a distributor of his master’s goods.

Luke 12:42–44 KJV 1900

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Being steward is about much more than receiving things from God. It is about investing things from God. When we take time to invest in others and use our gifts and resources to expand our sphere of influence on others around us, we have a great responsibility to make a spiritual impact on their lives.

Just like Joseph was given oversight of the distribution of food as Pharaoh’s right-hand man in Egypt, we have been given oversight of the Bread of Life which all the world needs.

If God has given you gifts, resources, or talents, He expects you to use those things to benefit others around you, beginning with your family, spreading to the church, and finally affecting all those with whom you come in contact.

He is to represent his Master.

Lastly, the faithful steward is to represent his master.

We represent Christ first of all to the lost around us.

Colossians 1:27 KJV 1900

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Let the world see Christ in us, there is little else in us that is worth seeing.

We also represent Christ to those under our authority or influence.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV 1900

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We are to be an ambassador, a mature messenger, as though God were speaking directly to others through us. And what kind of messenger would we be if we did not know the message of the Master? We must be well-acquainted with who our God is and what His message is.

Stewards carry a variety of responsibility which we have not full discussed, but we must move on.

The Reminders of being a Steward

The office of steward is not a trivial or unimportant task.

1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

It is not required that a man be found smart, charismatic, or talented. It is required for a steward to be faithful. This reminder is not in scripture without reason, being a faithful steward comes with several pitfalls which we would be wise to avoid.

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

The faithful, tried, and true steward of the Lord Jesus Christ must keep in mind his own flesh and account for his weaknesses as a human.

I am to be a servant, not boss.

The first of these reminders is that I am a fellowservant to those around me, not their boss. I can choose to be high and mighty and flaunt my spiritual mindset to others who I feel are lacking. But when I do so I dishonor my Master.

We all have a tendency to being to Lord over others when we receive the chance. (You’ve got younger siblings? Yep, you know exactly what I mean.) Worse, we are annoyed and frustrated by those who don’t treat us with the proper respect! Think of it! A Master that has been abused and tormented by those who hate and despise Him, and a servant who is upset because a fellowservant disagreed with him. Can’t you hear that Master say, “Can you not bear it? I have borne far more than this.”

Hebrews 12:3 KJV 1900

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

I am to please Christ, not men.

Next I’m reminded to please Christ, not men. When the steward is worried about what the other servants think more than about what the master thinks, everything will go astray.

Galatians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Pleasing others can become such a burden in itself that we become useless.

Pleasing Nobody

An old fable that has been passed down for generations tells about an elderly man who was travelling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal’s back. When they came to the next village, the people said the man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal’s back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road.

When we worry only about pleasing our master, we are free to do His will without distraction.

I am to be faithful, not lazy.

Important in our day is the next reminder: I am to be faithful, not lazy. We must be busy in our trust without abusing our minds and bodies. We must strive to utilize every moment of time as a gift of God and steward it to the best of our ability.

Romans 13:11 KJV 1900

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:29, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short....”

Ephesians 5:16 KJV 1900

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

If we would keep our stewardship and be faithful in it, there is no room for slothfulness.

Proverbs 12:24 KJV 1900

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But the slothful shall be under tribute.

Our use of time is an indication of the importance we place on the work we are doing. Unimportant work can be put off and sometimes skipped entirely. But when we see our duties as divine responsibilities, we will not treat them lightly.

I am to use and not abuse.

Another principle to remind ourselves of is that I am to use and not to abuse. Both people and property can become victims of this behavior from a steward. The foolish steward may misuse the master’s property for his own benefit or pleasure.

Even worse is when one abuses the people under their care with words or actions which tear them down. Just a grumpy mood can be enough to discourage another or encourage them to the wrong end. Be careful of your treatment of others.

Live a Luke 6:31 life.

Luke 6:31 KJV 1900

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Have them turn to Matthew 24:45-51.

I am to remember that the Master is coming.

The last and most important reminder for the steward is that the Master is coming.

Matthew 24:45–51 KJV 1900

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

After so long a time, when no one was looking for him, the master returned to reckon the account with his steward. The evil in that foolish steward’s heart began with the simple thought, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” The doubt that Satan cast on the Word of God in the Garden of Eden still hangs like a shadow for men today. “Ye shall not surely...” but you will.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But remember, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” This brings us to our final thought:

Have them turn to Matthew 25:14-30

The Result of being a Steward

There are only two outcomes to this great responsibility placed upon us. We may be faithfully serving and found so doing at His coming, or we may be ashamed at His coming.

Matthew 25:14–19 KJV 1900

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Jesus will certainly come. Long time or short, no man knows the hour in which the Son of Man cometh.

Punishment for disobedience

The first of the two possible outcomes is punishment or loss of reward.

Matthew 25:24–30 KJV 1900

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

There is great loss and sadness for this foolish man who neglected the trust given to him.

Reward for faithfulness

But what reward there is for faithfulness!

Matthew 25:21 KJV 1900

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Even more extraordinary a thought is found in Luke 12:37.

Luke 12:37 KJV 1900

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Imagine Christ Himself greeting the faithful one as he enters glory, and Christ says, “Here is one who has served me faithfully. This is the man whom the king delighteth to honor...” and He stoops down and serves this man. It is unthinkable! Whatever the cost, would it not be worth it to have Jesus Christ, the ruler of all, give such honor to such an undeserving sinner.

But Christ ends this passage with yet one more reminder.

Luke 12:40 KJV 1900

40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

How are doing stewarding what God has placed in your hands?