Good Stewardship is about more than Money

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

Genesis 1:28

We often associate money with stewardship but the bible lets us know that we are to be good stewards over everything within our realm of influence.  The first message from God to man was on the subject of Stewardship. God told Adam and Eve of three important tasks they were to fulfill:

     1.         Maximize resources by "multiplying" to accomplish God's purpose and plans.

     2.         Minimize disorder by "subduing".

     3.         Maintain order by "ruling" (dominion).

The greatest example of leadership in stewardship is, of course, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the model for all believers to set the tone for unbelievers and newly born again Christian believers. We, as believers, are to set the example by leading like a servant and a shepherd.

Apostle Paul took his role as a servant and a shepherd as he addressed the Hebrews:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  Hebrews 5:12

Apostle Paul lets us know that we should always be abounding in the word of God that we may show the way to others.

Every necessary quality of a true believer was evident in the life of Jesus Christ. Every task a true believer must perform was illustrated by Him. He set the tone and is our example in His training of those He chose as His disciples so that they could continue the work that He started.

God does not consider stewards successful because of their education, natural ability, or personality. They are successful because of their faithfulness and obedience. The main requirement of stewards is that they are faithful:

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  2 Timothy 2:2

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.   1 Corinthians 4:2

Consider this parable that Jesus told which speaks of faithfulness in Matthew 25:14-30 about servants whose master gave them resources called "talents", which in this case was money. They were told to be good stewards and use the funds wisely. Those who did so were called "faithful" and were rewarded. The one who failed was judged and held accountable.

The ministry of good spiritual stewardship involves leading others to accomplish great things for God. Stewardship is inclusive of many things, among them:

Ø  Recognizing The Importance Of The Anointing To Lead: Anointing by God for stewardship is more important than education, talents, and experience.

Ø  Meeting Biblical Qualifications For Leadership:  Stewardship begins with the Stewardship of self.
Ø  Learning To Lead Like A Servant: Spiritual leadership is not flashy public relations and a charismatic platform personality. It is humble service to those you lead. Serving is what sets Christian leadership apart from worldly leadership.

Ø   Learning To Lead Like A Shepherd: The qualities of a shepherd in the natural world are what Jesus used to describe spiritual leadership.

Ø   Understanding The Basic Tasks Of A Spiritual Leader: These include the difficult areas of decision-making and solving conflict and discipline problems.
Ø  Training Leaders And Followers: We all lead in certain situations, but everyone is a follower in other situations. Leaders must have followers. Both leaders and followers must be trained.

Ø   Applying Principles Of Spiritual Success Taught In God's Word: These principles will assure successful Stewardship of spiritual resources.

Ø  Avoiding Violations That Cause Failure In Spiritual Leadership: Failure in leading and following results from violations of Scriptural principles.

Ø  Understanding Principles Of Biblical Organization: These include leadership positions established by God and those developed because of practical needs of the Church.

Stewardship is not fixed, rigid, or based on worldly patterns. Good stewardship is  flexible to accommodate the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Stewardship exists for the purpose of achieving God-given purposes and plans, not to create a rigid corporate, institutional structure. Organization in the Church is really more like a living organism. The Bible compares the Church to the human body, with each part working together.

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:16

You cannot be elected to leadership in God's organization. You may be elected or appointed by man to an office, but no leader is ever made by appointment or election. You must be called and equipped by God for the work of the Kingdom.

Stewardship  involves position, for example, positions like apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Leadership also involves function. Its main function is equipping others for the work of the ministry. Leadership also concerns the relations of stewards with their followers.

Selection and promotion as a leader comes from God:

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.   Psalms 75:6-7

Stewardship involves analyzing your ministry in order to establish purpose and plans.

Stewardship also involves the following areas:

Ø  Formulating A Purpose For Ministry In Harmony With That Of God: If you do not know your purpose and have a vision, you cannot lead others.

Ø  Making Plans To Achieve The Purpose: You will never achieve your purpose if you do not plan to do so.

Ø  Organizing People And Procedures To Implement The Plan: Stewardship involves motivating and supervising people as they accomplish tasks which are part of God's purpose and plans.

Ø  Perfecting The Plan Through Evaluation: The Lord's work should be done with excellence.

Here are some reasons why spiritual stewardship is important:

Ø   Provides Purpose And Direction:  If you are to be successful in ministry, then you must have a purpose and plans in harmony with those of God and be able to communicate them to others. When you know your specific purpose for ministry and make plans to fulfill that purpose, then you can lead others. Leaders must know where they are going in order to guide others. Guidance and unity in ministry involve common purpose and direction.

Ø   Eliminates Confusion:  When there is proper direction, confusion is eliminated:

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.   1 Corinthians 14:33

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  Ephesians 5:1

If God's activities are not characterized by confusion, the ministries of His servants should not be either.

Ø  Permits Proper Decisions:  Decisions determine your destiny. This is true even of salvation. You make a decision to either accept or reject the Gospel and your eternal destiny is determined by your decision.

Your present life and ministry is determined by previous decisions you have made. You either made decisions by thoughtful planning or on the spur of the moment. Good stewardship permits you to make proper decisions with the guidance of the Lord.

Ø  Establishes Priorities For Ministry:  Priorities are things which are more important than other things. They are the things which take first place in your time and attention. You will have priorities in life whether you consciously determine them or not. You will establish priorities either by drifting into habits that become a way of life, because of pressure of circumstances or people around you, or by a definite decision based on God's purposes.

Ø  Permits Action Rather Than Reaction:  Many ministries are occupied with reacting to urgent matters in the present instead of planning for the future. This causes leaders to react rather than act with wisdom and purpose.

Without a strategy or plan, you do not know what you are doing in ministry, why you are doing it, or how it is to be done. Because you have no organization and direction, you have nothing to commit to, no way to evaluate your effectiveness for God, and you are easily persuaded to react and quit in crisis times.

Good stewardship transforms desire to demonstration and visions to reality. 

It helps you determine what you are to do and how to do it in order to fulfill God's purposes.

Ø  Establishes Accountability:  In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, the servants were accountable for all that was entrusted to their care. Their master had a plan, communicated it to them, and they were to fulfill it by investing the funds they were given.

You are accountable not only for knowing God's will for your life and ministry, but also for walking it out:

And that servant, which knew His Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes.   Luke 12:47

If you do not wisely manage the ministry with which you are entrusted, you will be held accountable.

Ø  Permits Evaluation:  Stewardship includes evaluation to see if you are fulfilling God's purpose and plan. Understanding Biblical principles of success and reasons for failure permit such evaluation.

Ø  Permits Wise Use Of Spiritual Resources:  Good stewardship helps you manage spiritual resources properly and enables you to be a proper steward of funds, material possessions, people, and spiritual gifts for the work of God's Kingdom.

Ø   Prepares You To Enter Open Doors:

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.  1 Corinthians 16:9

     

When God opens doors, you must be ready to walk through them and face new challenges. This is not possible without proper preparation. Read the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. God opens doors, but they do not stay open forever. They open and wait for you to enter. Then they close, sometimes never to open again.

Ø   Harmonizes Ministry With God's Will:  The first question of the Apostle Paul after his conversion was, "What will you have me to do?" He was asking God, "What is your plan for my life and ministry?" Wise stewardship brings your life and ministry in harmony with God's purpose and plans.

God calls us to be good stewards.  God told King Saul:

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.   1 Samuel 13:14

God still searches for men whom He can use as leaders:

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land; that I should not destroy it; but I found none.  Ezekiel 22:30

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.    2 Chronicles 16:9

Becoming a good steward takes time and effort:

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:13

Wood, hay, and stubble all grow above the ground. It is easily produced and can readily be seen by man, but it is easily destroyed. Gold and silver are precious metals produced under the ground. They are not readily seen by man, but they are more lasting.  

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  1 Corinthians 3:11-13

Flashy, popular, secular stewardship is like the wood, hay, and stubble. It is seen of man and easily produced through natural talents and abilities. Godly stewardship is like gold and silver. It is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit in the inner, hidden man. But it is infinitely precious and durable.

(Biblical Studies)






12/29/15
08/06/20