Kingdom Stewardship
Kingdom citizens are good stewards of all the Lord God gives. Everything He has blessed us with, is our responsibility and we answer for how we handle it. We pray for increase and provision. We pray for things we really want to possess and use, but how do we handle what He has already given us? Maybe we need a better home or a better car. Maybe we need more finances to provide a better lifestyle for our family. What are you asking Him for in your life? How are you caring for what you already have? We know that: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 It all comes from Him. We don't actually "own" anything. He gives and we are stewards, given authority over these things. Consider the lesson the Lord Jesus taught in His parable about stewardship:
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
"So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30
This parable may be applied to many situations!
Everything the Father gives us and gives us authority over should be thought of as a test of our ability to be a proper steward of His assets. If we are driving a 20 year old car, we have a responsibility to keep it neat and in good running condition to the best of our ability. We don't just let it fall apart while praying for a new car. Maybe we are living in a small "not so nice" home and we are praying for a bigger, better home in a nicer neighborhood. Again, we should care for the "not so nice" home to the very best of our ability, keeping it clean, neat and in the best condition we can make it. These possessions should look loved because our Father who loves us gave them to us! How we care for what God has blessed us with shows whether we truly believe it all comes from Him! If you are renting a home, apartment or trailer and praying for the Lord to bless you with a home of your own, treat it with the same care you would if it was your own home! How we steward everything that has been placed under our authority shows whether or not the Father can trust us with more. Or if He will take it away and give it to someone who is stewarding it well. When you give your child an expensive toy or gift, if they always left it laying out in the yard, or were careless and damaged it in some way, how much would you want to give that child greater things? If you pray for financial increase, then waste the money frivolously when you get it, why would He continue to give you more. Referencing this parable, He would take away what was yours and give it to someone else!
Being a good steward doesn't begin and end with our personal finances and possessions. It also applies at work! Being a wise steward includes how we as Kingdom citizens handle everything we have authority over. Even some people who say they love Jesus may not even think about being a wise, good steward with their employer's assets. If they have that level of authority over their job's assets, they may not count the cost because it isn't their money or asset. Business lunches, per diem and padding the expense account or being untruthful about time worked, being careless and damaging property items, etc. Everything we do, is as if we were doing for the Lord. That is Kingdom stewardship.! Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. Colossians 3:23-25 NLT Too often employees will see their employer's "deep pockets" and not count the costs as they might if it were their own bank account. It doesn't matter if you work for the richest business in the world. You represent the God who created it all and should represent like you realize He is your Father.
If you are praying for increase in an area and not seeing anything change or it feels as if He is silent, I ask you to evaluate how good of a steward are you being with all that He has given you to manage. What is your priority? If it is anything other than the following scripture, there needs to be an attitude change: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. " Matthew 6:25-32 NLT
He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NKJV unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.
"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
"So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30
This parable may be applied to many situations!
Everything the Father gives us and gives us authority over should be thought of as a test of our ability to be a proper steward of His assets. If we are driving a 20 year old car, we have a responsibility to keep it neat and in good running condition to the best of our ability. We don't just let it fall apart while praying for a new car. Maybe we are living in a small "not so nice" home and we are praying for a bigger, better home in a nicer neighborhood. Again, we should care for the "not so nice" home to the very best of our ability, keeping it clean, neat and in the best condition we can make it. These possessions should look loved because our Father who loves us gave them to us! How we care for what God has blessed us with shows whether we truly believe it all comes from Him! If you are renting a home, apartment or trailer and praying for the Lord to bless you with a home of your own, treat it with the same care you would if it was your own home! How we steward everything that has been placed under our authority shows whether or not the Father can trust us with more. Or if He will take it away and give it to someone who is stewarding it well. When you give your child an expensive toy or gift, if they always left it laying out in the yard, or were careless and damaged it in some way, how much would you want to give that child greater things? If you pray for financial increase, then waste the money frivolously when you get it, why would He continue to give you more. Referencing this parable, He would take away what was yours and give it to someone else!
Being a good steward doesn't begin and end with our personal finances and possessions. It also applies at work! Being a wise steward includes how we as Kingdom citizens handle everything we have authority over. Even some people who say they love Jesus may not even think about being a wise, good steward with their employer's assets. If they have that level of authority over their job's assets, they may not count the cost because it isn't their money or asset. Business lunches, per diem and padding the expense account or being untruthful about time worked, being careless and damaging property items, etc. Everything we do, is as if we were doing for the Lord. That is Kingdom stewardship.! Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. Colossians 3:23-25 NLT Too often employees will see their employer's "deep pockets" and not count the costs as they might if it were their own bank account. It doesn't matter if you work for the richest business in the world. You represent the God who created it all and should represent like you realize He is your Father.
If you are praying for increase in an area and not seeing anything change or it feels as if He is silent, I ask you to evaluate how good of a steward are you being with all that He has given you to manage. What is your priority? If it is anything other than the following scripture, there needs to be an attitude change: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. " Matthew 6:25-32 NLT
He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21
Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NKJV unless otherwise noted.
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you.