Spiritual Discipline-Part 4 Stewardship-Taking Care of What We've Been Given

So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.  Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:2, 10-13 (NKJV)

We are looking at a 6-part devotional series titled, "Spiritual discipline."  We've learned that we will have a propensity to repeat our mistakes within our Christian walk until we implement "Spiritual disciplines" into our life - disciplines that will help us to stay focused on God and his Word.  In addition to these disciplines, we must purpose in our heart to be filled daily with the Spirit of God (See Eph 5:18).  Once we have learned these principles, we can implement them to ensure an effective Christian life that brings honor to God and edifies those around us. 

Every one of us has probably experienced certain areas in our life where we have failed to do what we knew to be right.  The reason for making these choices inevitably came down to a lack of "Self-discipline."  This series has been written to help us in developing Christ-like characteristics that are brought about by practicing, "Spiritual discipline."

In Part 3, we took a look at our second "Spiritual discipline," which was "Spending time in the Word of God."  In Part 4 of this series we will begin to look at our third "Spiritual discipline," which is:

• Stewardship

While our first two "Spiritual disciplines" were as equally essential as this one, this next discipline of "Stewardship" cuts to the bone.  The reason is that this one reveals our selfish nature and it holds us very accountable.  The principle of biblical Stewardship is actually very simple - we own nothing - everything we have is God's!  We are just the ones who have been entrusted to manage it properly. 

For some, they can easily agree, but for others, this is a tough pill to swallow.  They might believe that their money is their own - that they earned it on their own, and therefore they can spend it as they see fit.  Everything we have is from God, and it has been given to us by God to sustain our needs and to invest into other lives as well - we are to be accountable for what we have.  

you say in your heart, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'  "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NKJV)

Before I go any farther, I want you to know that I am not intending to lay a guilt trip on you so you give away your money - nor am I going to judge anyone because they may have been blessed with the possession of a nice home or car. What I would like to do though is challenge us all to be better disciplined in this area.  And the way we do that is to reveal the truth about whose resources these are, and to find out what He wants us to do with them.  

Q:    So how should this affect our decision making with regard to our spending?

A:    Well, if God owns everything, and we are to manage what He has graciously given us, then we should be consulting Him in every purchase and decision that we choose to use these resources for. 

Here are some things we know about stewardship according to Jesus.  

• Jesus taught that only the faithful stewards would be prepared for His return (Matt. 25:14-30).
• Jesus taught that not everyone would be given an equal amount (Matt. 25:14-15).

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matthew 25:15 (NKJV)

It isn't the size of the gift that God has given us that is important, but what is done with it.  The only way we can properly manage God's resource is to seek His will by petitioning Him in prayer; by reading His Word, and by listening for the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  We should understand that this parable given to us by Jesus in Matthew 25 clearly indicates that we are to invest our money into the lives of others when God leads us too.  

Hey Christian, we will be continually bombarded with temptation to spend our resources on fulfilling our own pleasures.  We are told that the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful (See Mk. 4:19).  This is why it is imperative that we stay in the Word daily - to be renewed and transformed, and to be equipped with the "Spiritual discipline" of "Stewardship."  

STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures contained within this devotional, what can we learn with regard to our money and how it is to be used?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you asking God how to spend and invest the money that He has entrusted to you?

APPLICATION: Make it a goal to be the steward that God desires.   Discipline yourself by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.