February 17, 2020 - Stewardship - what is the meaning of that word, how does it apply to the life of a Christian.
Stewardship - according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
If we are talking about stewardship, then stewardship of what? The management of the things the Lord has entrusted to each one of us, for all anyone has is given him by the Lord.
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." (Psalm 24:1-2)
All that I or you or anyone has is entrusted to him by the Lord for all has been created by the Lord and all belongs to the Lord, we are only entrusted with the good-keeping of what we have for the time we are here.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
And Good said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food." (Genesis 1:26-29)
And it was so with Adam and Eve and their descendants until the flood came and all mankind except for Noah and his family were destroyed for all were evil in every way.
As Noah and his family departed from the ark along with all of the animals that he had kept for the Lord, the Lord blessed them as he had done with Adam and Eve.
"And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything." (Genesis 9:1-3)
God made man stewards of every living thing on earth, for with Noah he added the animals of the earth to the things which he gave man, not to abuse nor to waste but to use for his own food and welfare. It is the same with all material things of the earth, they are God's, we are only allowed to use what we need for our lifetime here on earth.
God's word says this about treasure, here on earth and in heaven.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
And so I ask you, are you being a good steward of the things the Lord has entrusted you with?
Are you working each day to do his will and to follow in his footsteps in your journey through life?
Are you laying up your treasures in heaven where you will have them throughout eternity, or, are you chasing the treasures of this world, establishing your kingdom on earth where it will all burn away one fateful day?
Follow the Lord Jesus Christ and his treasure, eternal life with him in the kingdom of God in heaven.
May you be receive the blessings of our Lord, his joy and peace even on this earth!
