Jesus Christ said in Luke 12:48 (NKJV), “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required;” reminding us that greater accountability and responsibility will always accompany greater blessings. Through His powerful and beloved Son, Jesus Christ, God has blessed us with a level of abundance that exceeds our grandest imagination. The universe overflows with His generosity, and blessings continually flow from heaven’s doors. It is crucial that we manage these blessings wisely. God’s brilliance is unlimited, and everything He does is supremely intelligent. He has designed the system of “more” in such a way that those who expect and ask for more must be prepared to manage it in a way that pleases Him.
Stewardship goes beyond simply managing what we have; it encompasses a heart posture toward everything God has entrusted to us. It’s about recognizing that our time, talents, and resources are gifts from God, meant to be used for His glory. When we’re feeling depleted and disappointed with life, and things become even more chaotic, most of us aren’t thinking about stewardship. Instead, we’re asking our Heavenly Father for the storm to pass so we can find peace. However, along with this request, we must realize that His call upon our lives should be our priority. We need to see our lives not as our own to control, but as a canvas for God’s work. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) tells us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Recognizing Our Gifts
One of the first steps in becoming a good steward is acknowledging the unique gifts God has given us. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) tells us, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” Some may think, “I don’t have any special talents, skills or gifts.” Thinking this way doesn’t line up with the truth of 1 Peter 4:10. We’ve all been given a gift to help uplift and serve the body of Christ. If we are not actively pursuing or engaging in this gifting, it reveals where our faith needs to grow. It’s a matter we should bring to our prayer time with God.
God’s Word is true. Proverbs 30:5 (NLT) says, “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Isaiah 40:8 (NLT) also assures us, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Our Heavenly Father has declared in His Word that each of us has received a gift, and He commands us to use our talents, gifts, and special abilities to serve the body of Christ. Sometimes, our wake-up calls are about this very thing. It’s possible we’re on a path where we use all that God has poured into us solely for our own benefit. When this is the case, He lets us know that it’s time to expand our reach.
Shifting from Ownership to Management
Take Sandra’s shake-up for example. She had always thought of her career as her domain, but after her job loss, she realized that nothing truly belonged to her. This shift in her mindset and heart attitude from ownership to management was profound. Like her, we must renew our minds to the truth that every resource—be it our finances, our time, or our energy—is entrusted to us by God. James 1:17 (NLT) reminds us, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” God is the Giver of good and perfect gifts, and we are to use them for His glory.
Sometimes, we might think that we need to pull off grand and intricate feats for the Kingdom, but this isn’t true in many cases. Our faith should rest solely in the truth that what we do and how we do it is up to God, not us. We are called to be led by His Holy Spirit, who continually guides us as we fulfill our purpose in God’s plan. Most of us start with small steps, and as we grow in our stewardship, God blesses us with more opportunities. In Matthew 25:21 (NLT), Jesus’ parable of the talents illustrates this truth beautifully: “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” This verse shows us that God rewards our faithfulness in stewardship, no matter the size of our tasks.
Cultivating a Generous Spirit
Good stewardship also means having a generous spirit. When we shift our focus from hoarding to giving, we create space for God’s blessings to flow both in and through us. Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) states, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Living abundantly requires an abundant attitude and heart towards serving the body of Christ in the way that God has appointed. It’s all about letting the Spirit lead us to moments where we can be a blessing to others. It’s imperative that we do this, because we don’t get to move to the next level of growth and blessings unless this practice is deeply rooted in our lifestyle.
Living abundantly and embracing all that God has in store for our lives is so much more than acquiring blessings; it’s living with purpose, earnestly desiring to be like Jesus Christ, and giving our all to follow his example; this is how we please God with our whole lives. It’s recognizing the wake-up calls in life as God’s gentle nudges, reminding us that it’s time to rise higher. We must remain focused and motivated, especially during challenging times, trusting that God is using every moment to shape us and lead us toward our calling. In doing so, we become vessels of His love, spreading joy and hope to those around us, and experiencing the true richness of life that comes from a heart that is aligned with His Will.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Making of a Good Steward”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.