The Divine Trust: Exploring the Intersection of Stewardship and God's Will

God and man

Have you ever stopped to think about who really owns everything you possess? Your life, your talents, your resources, are they truly yours, or are you a caretaker of them? The Bible has a surprising answer, one that can transform our understanding of stewardship and God's will. In this post, we'll explore the fascinating relationship between stewardship and God's will, and what it means for our lives.

‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ These words, spoken by Winston Churchill, echo the biblical principle of stewardship. As Christians, we're called to manage God's resources in a way that honors Him and blesses others. But what does that look like in practical terms?

Let's start by seeing it from the chronological aspect of man's existence at creation of the universe ;

In Genesis 1:28, God entrusts humanity with the stewardship of creation. This mandate is not just about managing resources, but about caring for the world and its inhabitants and we're reminded that ‘the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it’ (Psalm 24:1) and we had some key prominent people of whom we learnt a lot from their life examples.

Joseph's story in Genesis 37-50 demonstrates the importance of trusting God's sovereignty in stewardship. Despite being sold into slavery and facing numerous challenges, Joseph remained faithful, recognizing that God was working through him. As stewards, we must learn to trust God's will, even when circumstances seem uncertain.

In Exodus 3-4, Moses is called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery. Moses' response, 'Who am I?' (Exodus 3:11), highlights the importance of humility in stewardship. As stewards, we must recognize our limitations and trust God's guidance, acknowledging that our role is to serve and care for others.

1 Chronicles 29:1-5 records David's generosity in providing resources for the construction of the Temple. David's example demonstrates the importance of stewarding resources wisely, recognizing that they belong to God. As stewards, we must prioritize generosity and wise financial management.

Unlike in the previous time, people were taught but forgot with time and did what wasn't right in the sight of the Lord. Then He, in His everlasting love for humanity, never gave us to perish in our transgressions but decided that He would be known better and intimately by us through the person of Lord Jesus Christ of whom we learnt and still progressively learning by the guide of the Holy Spirit as we study His amongst us.

In Mathew 25:14-30, Jesus teaches the parable of talents, emphasizing the importance of faithful stewardship. However, this parable also highlights the paradox of stewardship: we are called to surrender control to God while still being responsible for managing His resources. How can we balance these two seemingly contradictory aspects of stewardship?

In accordance with his first letter to the Corinthians 12:4-11, Paul emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. As stewards of our talents, we recognize that our gifts are not our own, but are entrusted to us by God for the benefit of others.

Psalm 90:12 reminds us to 'number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.' "We need to prioritize our days, recognizing that our time is a precious resource entrusted to us by God.

Ad we go on to see in Matthew 6:19-21, Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaches us to store up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth. So we ought to prioritize our spending, recognizing that our resources are not our own, but are entrusted to us by God.

It's not only the above but we learn also about our emotions as we reflect on Psalm 42:1-5 reminding us to 'put our hope in God, for we will yet praise Him.' We need to prioritize our mental and emotional well-being, recognizing that our emotions are not our own, but are entrusted to us by God. Saint Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1 to 16 emphasizes the importance of unity and diversity within the body of Christ, so we must also prioritize building each other and in one of his epistle to acknowledge that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and a vessel for God's work and manifestation.

As we journey through life, we're faced with countless choices about how to use our time, treasure, and talent. But, as followers of Christ, we're called to a higher standard. We're called to live as stewards, not owners, using our resources to advance God's kingdom and bring glory to His name. So, let us rise to the challenge! Let us live with intentionality, purpose, and passion, using our resources to make a lasting impact for God's glory.