“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
as good stewards.
God not only asks us to be a steward but a “good” steward. “Good” emphasizes quality. God wants us to use the stewardship of our gift qualitatively. First Timothy 4:6 says that we are to be a “good minister,” and Second Timothy 2:3 urges us to be “good soldiers.”
In the first century, landowners placed stewards over great estates. These stewards were slaves captured from other parts of the world. Often these slaves were the leaders of their countries or business types. A “steward” was first a manager of a household or estate.
The owner of the estate held the steward accountable to fulfill the trust committed to him. The owner put his goods and property into the steward’s faithful hands. God wants us to administer our gift like a manager of an estate faithfully. A steward is one to whom God entrusts specific resources. Joseph of the Old Testament was a trustee of Pharaoh’s goods. God placed us as a trustee of our gift.
Lk 12:48, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him, they will ask the more.”
Lk 16:10, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
God uses the “steward” of the leader of a local congregation.
Tit. 1:7, “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money.”
PRINCIPLE:
The Christian is a manager of God’s grace through is a gift.
APPLICATION:
God wants us to be trustworthy, not famous. He does not even want us to be successful but faithful.
1 Co 4:1-2, “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.”
A steward serves others by distributing his gift to meet the needs of others. A good steward manages God’s provisions well. As a minister of Christ, God entrusts us with the treasures of the gospel. The first requirement is trustworthiness.
What kind of steward have you been with God’s gifts for you? Have you opened your spiritual gift/s? Have you neglected your gift? Do you use your gifts to serve others? There is room for everyone in the service of the King.
