Stewardship

“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need” Acts 2:44-45 [emphasis added]

The early church was big on stewardship. The question is what is stewardship? Who is a steward? Simply put, a steward is someone that is in charge of some else’s property. A steward by definition is one who manages and looks after another’s property. You and I are stewards and this dates back to the very beginning. “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it” Gen.2:15. “…to tend and watch over it” in my opinion speaks more of stewardship. But sadly man confuses stewardship with ownership.

Unfortunately, when you put man in charge of something to tend, to watch, to manage, and to be a steward of, man tends to think he owns it. A major problem with man is the word “mine”. For those of us that are parents we know that every child goes through that phase where everything is “mine”. People grow out of that phase but unfortunately because of the nature of man we never really grow out of that phase. We remain where we claim things that God has just put us in charge of and declare it is mine! And Heaven is saying, “Is it really yours?” It is my achievement, it is my degree. it is my certificate. It is my house. It is my car. They are my children. Are they really your children? You will discover that they are not, they just passed through your body. The “it is mine” mind set is one of the problems with man. We confuse stewardship with ownership. God puts us to take care, to tend and to watch over things and we say we own it because we are in charge! Are you really in charge?
“As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom” Dan.4:30-31. This was one of the most powerful kings in the history of man but sadly he fell into the same trap of “it is mine!” And the Bible says, “while these words were still in his mouth” heaven announced his punishment. There are many things God can joke with but He does not joke with His glory. You need to know that the word mine undermines God’s glory.

Prayer: Father, today I repent of every time I have undermined Your glory and I ask that You will have mercy on me, in Jesus Name.