An overseer, managing the affairs of what God has given me upon this earth
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Cor 4:2
However in the Bible, when we are told to be a good steward. So what is that to us and how should we understand it?
The word, steward, translates in Greek as οἰκονόμον (pronounced “oikonomon”). This word most closely correlates in modern English to manager. We are to be God’s managers of what God has entrusted to us. It is like being the manager of whatever, wherever, we are and what we are doing in life.
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,” (2 Peter 1:5-6).
So self-control is something we make an effort for and receive. It is done in cooperation with the Holy Spirit – not by Him for us, nor by us without Him. We need the Holy Spirt to help us throughout life and it sure is better than trying to life alone. But I do want to add this here: If we are not living a godly life in the eyes of God…then we are not living correctly and in self-control. God will allow anyone to reject Him, but anyone who chooses to reject Him…needs to understand the consequences in doing so. I can’t control many things that come along in life. I can work on them, pray about them, do my best to handle them, but I have found out that if I want to get through something and be victorious then I need to do it with God.
When we lack self-control in the area of stewardship we will be controlled by whatever comes our way. We won’t make right choices. Jesus died for each of us and because He did that we can now choose to live for Him and do things His way. He wants us to be good stewards of all we have.
Most people think that they are what got them the things they have in life (money, fame, and so on) but all good and perfect gifts come from God. If you think that you are more special than someone because you have more “stuff” you are 100% wrong. God can zap what you have you think so much of…in an instant and then what?
As a steward I am to be a manager of my affairs so that what I do, where I go, what I see, how I spend what God has given me…will honor Him. What I have belongs to the Lord and He loans me stuff while I am here on this earth. I am to take care of what I have.
As you look around the world today do you see good stewards of what people have? Not so much in this day and age. Many have become very “me” and not a person who actually wants to do good and help others.
The Lord has entrusted me with all He has given me. I might not have much compared to you but I am very blessed with all I do have. I don’t want what belongs to you. Your “stuff” does not impress me one bit. You see…heaven is coming and we will all be blessed for all eternity with whatever God gives us. I see a lot of people who are so greedy, so in want and jealous of what others have they can hardly stand it. Be happey with whatever you have and work hard to get what you think you need, but don’t want what they have. Don’t you know that God can give you something without you wanting what someone else has.
I belong to the Lord, my spouse belongs to the Lord my kids belong to the Lord. I got blessed by having them in my life but they are only on loan to me while I am here. I lost a child so I know that people come and go in our life and even though we have sorrow…great sorrow at that…people are just loaned to us for a season. We never forget them, and we always wish they were here with us…but there is a time they must go on to be with God…or wherever they will be till then. I say that depending on what you believe. I believe in heaven!
We are told not to change, or even try, to change God’s message. God doesn’t change and we have no right ever to think we can change any of His word. It is our responsibility as Christians to spread the truth and nothing but the truth. If people won’t listen and cause us persecution for the truth…know this: They will have to stand before God and give an account.
We are all different. We live different lives. We have different families, we have different jobs, different things going on in life, but if we are a Christian then we are loved by God and we are part of the body “if” we are telling the truth and being united in His word. The church belongs to Jesus. It is not ours to do with whatever we want or think it needs. It is His church and He runs it…not us.
Each of us has a different part to play in the church and in life. You can’t do what I have been called to do…even if what we have been called to do is similar. I have to do mine and you have to do yours. I see different people than you do, relate to them differently, and may reach someone you can’t and you someone I can’t reach. Why should I ever get upset over that? I shouldn’t.
God is our leader and we are His. He can give us whatever job to do and we should go and do it. We can’t please God on our own either. We each have a roll to do and we need to be about His business. We need to trust Him, depend on Him, take counsel from Him, live for Him, and stop anything in our life that should not be going on. We need to be good stewards of whatever God has been so kind as to bless us with.
Now, may God bless you, guide you, keep you, provide for your needs, teach you, comfort you, and give you His peace.
Let us each be a Team Jesus Player.
God bless you!