Faithful Stewards

So, I keep thinking about stewardship.  I've been continuing to cultivate the truth that I am a steward of the family that God has placed under my care, and exploring what that might mean.  It's been good, I think, to remember often that I am only a steward, and not an owner, cultivating the truth, as opposed to the fiction of ownership, or mastery.

One of the parables about the Kingdom is the parable of the talents (or resources):

Mat 25:14-30  For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  (15)  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.  (16)  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  (17)  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.  (18)  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.  (19)  After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  (20)  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  (21)  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  (22)  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  (23)  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  (24)  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:  (25)  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.  (26)  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  (27)  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.  (28)  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  (29)  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.  (30)  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Some of the elements of stewardship I see in this parable are

• The steward didn't elect to become a steward.  He was chosen and given the quantity of resources that the Master decide he ought to have.
• The Master did this, leaving the possibility in the hands of the stewards that they might mismanage His resources.
• The Master expected and demanded wise use, and a profit.
• Faithfulness was rewarded.
• There are consequences to how we do with what we have been given.

So, you and I have been given a wife and children by the Master.  We also have been given His Word, and His Spirit as "resources" to help us with our stewardship.  We need to consider how He can reap a reward for his trusting us with our wives and children.

It's too easy to get distracted by work and interests and the mundane things in life, though those things might be fine in their place.  We can not let them keep us from doing the real work in the Kingdom.  I think the possibility exists that what we do with our family will result in more responsibility in the Kingdom when it comes in fulness.   We need to keep on challenging each other in this area!  It's so easy to forget how important this area is!