Tag Archives: stewardship

May 5
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“Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) (I Kings 18:2b – 4, NIV)

Obadiah, like many of us, was at or near the pinnacle of his working life.  Yet, his position as the king’s “chief of staff” was not the primary force of Obadiah’s life: He was also “a devout believer in the Lord.”

Because of that commitment, Obadiah did what was morally right — even though it was contrary to the law of the land, and he would have paid with his life had his support of the prophets of the Lord been discovered.

May we each be like Obadiah: Not married to our privileges, power, prestige, and position; but first and always committed to and trusting in the Lord. When we become stewards of access, privilege, and power; it is only for the benefit of others, and for the glory of God.  – Luther

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April 27
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“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48, NIV)

Accountability.

The harsh images of this passage remind us of three important things about accountability: Knowing, being, and doing.

First, we are to know the Master’s will.  As we are instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15: Study to show ourselves approved of God, a workman who need not be ashamed.”  Second, we are to be in the state of readiness.  Third, we are to do our duty in obedience to our Master’s will. To know, to be, or to do otherwise invites rebuke.

Be diligent in both the acquisition of the tools of discipleship — and in the use of those tools for the glory of God — so that when the Master returns, you may have reason for great joy when called to give an accounting of your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.  – Luther

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November 30
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“He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done.”  (Hebrews 4:13, The Living Bible)

Some people seem surprised at the capacity of today’s technology to see all, hear all, to record all — and with our inability to keep for long any of it a secret.

Of greater concern than the public revelation of our deeds and misdeeds to our neighbors is the fact that we each “must explain all of that we have done” to our Creator.

An important element of discipleship is accountability.  Can you and I, as stewards of the blessings and gifts of God, account for how we’ve spent our years of living; or how we’ve used the gifts we’ve received; or how we’ve taken advantage of the many opportunities presented to us?  God’s word reminds us that no secret will be hidden forever; what was done in the secrecy of a basement — good or evil — shall be published to all from the rooftops, to our affirmation (good deeds) or to our shame and undoing (poor stewardship and evil deeds ).

For these reasons, do all that you can to engage with opportunities for good; to enlarge your influence for the sake of good; and to equip yourself (mentally, physically, morally, and spiritually) with the tools for the blessed task at hand, so that you may have no reason for shame on the Day of Accountability.  – Luther

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