PT.1
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. KJV
YOU ARE A STEWARD
In my early days as a believer, one of the teachings we had in Believer's Class was "Stewardship". It didn't make much sense to me then but now I know better. If there's anything believers must understand about their position in Christ in this culture that makes man "The owner", I think the teaching on stewardship should be re emphasized over and over till we understand God's mind.
One of the things that has also caused argument in recent years is the subject of "Tithing". For me, it is not an issue to argue about If kingdom people understand their place as stewards. What we give to God shouldn't be a subject of debate as long as our giving is scripturally done. Kindly take note of "Scriptural Giving." Some give but not scripturally.
I understand there are extremes on the subject of giving just like other subjects but it is safe to stay in the middle of the lane on biblical matters. My concern is about stewardship and how it affects our approach to life.
Who is a steward? A steward is a manager of resources. Someone who holds a thing in trust for another person. Redemption automatically makes us stewards of everything ( gifts, time, life, ministry, money, spouse, children, education, etc) God has given to us. We own nothing, God owns everything.
1Pet 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as FAITHFUL STEWARDS of God’s grace in its various forms.
The day you gave your life to Christ, you became a steward of your life. You lost the right of ownership to everything because your life, money, time,etc ceases to be yours. Listen to Paul: "He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."( 2 Corinthians 5:15 NLT). Did you read that?
According to brother Paul, those who receive the new life will no longer live for themselves. They'll no longer have the right of ownership. That's who we are as stewards. We own nothing, God owns everything.
Most of the teachings on New Creation Realities tells us so much about our supremacy over sin, sickness, Satan but only a few teaches on stewardship because this is where our commitment to God lies. Others are God's commitment to us by reason of our new life but stewardship is where our commitment to God is tested.
Let this mind be in you henceforth that you are only a steward of all that God has committed into your hands.
Father, I thank you for your word to me. I receive the grace to live as a kingdom steward in Jesus name.