Faithful Steward

One little word from the writings of Paul to the church at Corinth stuck with me today. He said, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4:1) Stewards. I wanted to know more so I went to The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Red Letter Edition. Yes, that is really the title. And no, I do not know how you can expand something that is exhaustive. But if you want to dig deeper--or just feel like a really smart Bible scholar--this is the thick book that can help.

The word steward means "house-distributor or overseer; these were usually slaves or freedmen (prior slaves)." So Paul calls us stewards. This means that God has entrusted to us--once slaves to sin--the task of overseeing His great mysteries in this rebellious world. So how are you and I accomplishing that role? Are we being faithful?

To be a "good" steward one would have to know their Master's desires. How could a slave manage their master's house without knowing their master's heart? In the same way, for you and I to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, we have to know our Father's heart.

I have this image in my mind of a servant, home alone while the master was away. He has two choices. One, he could sit on the couch, sipping hot tea, indulging in his master's riches, completely unaware of his master's desires. Then when he heard the garage door opening, he would jump up and start folding that pile of laundry--just to appear as if he had been a faithful steward. Or two, he could know and love his master. And while his master is away, submit to his master's will--which is righteous and fulfilling--with joyful anticipation of his master's return. Likewise we as stewards of God have a similar choice. How are we "being" in the waiting?

God is not interested in our "doing." He is interested in our "being." From the devotions of our heart, our actions will follow. If we spend time seeking the face of God and knowing His heart, then He will empower us to both understand and live in submission to His will--as faithful stewards of His mysteries. This is freedom. This is where lasting joy can be found.

I want to be a faithful steward of the great mysteries of our amazing God. He is worthy. His plans are good.

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My Way or the Highway

I am going to get right to it today. Sinful thoughts, words, attitudes, and deeds are all byproducts of selfishness. It's all about me--my wants, my needs, my agenda, my time. This is our natural state of thinking--how will this or that affect numero uno. His words hurt me. Her ways irritate me. His weaknesses frustrate me. Me. Me. Me. When will we truly come to understand--it is not about me. It is all about Him.

I heard a funny analogy yesterday from one of Joyce Meyer's "sermons"--it is just weird for a girl with Southern Baptist roots to call her a pastor and what she says a sermon. But the woman can preach! She said that she and her husband were driving and came upon an orange orchard. She got to thinking, "Those oranges didn't come about because the tree was thinking really hard and 'pushing' with all its might." Then she puckered her face, clinched her fists, and strained with all she had. "No, those oranges grew because of what was happening inside the tree." She went on to explain that the "fruit of the Spirit"--which you can read about in Galatians 5:22-26--does not appear because we try really hard to be good. The fruit of the Spirit is a byproduct of what is going on inside of the believer.

If we are living for ourselves--my wants, needs, agenda, etc.--then we will miss the Spirit-filled, fruit producing life. The fruit of God--love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control--can only flow from the Spirit of God. The fruit is a byproduct of dying to self and allowing God to work in and through us. It is saying, "Lord, I am a complete mess left to myself. My thoughts are critical, my attitudes irritable, and my words discouraging. If you can use me, then you can have me. Do Your thing in me." Paul says to die daily to self. Daily take up our cross and follow after Christ. To live the life that breeds the fruit of God then we must lay down ourselves and submit our will to His. It is only then that His power will be made manifest.

Not me, me, me. Rather, You, You, You. God, make Yourself famous through my little life.

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Love You, Lord

My faithful Father--Righteous and True,
You say, "Be content--let Me bless you."

This world races quickly, spinning and blurred;
I make my corner stop--hear the sound of sweet birds.

So tempting to chase after things that won't fill;
But it's only in You where my spirit sits still.

"Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith and love,
Patience and gentleness"--words from above.

The things of this world slowly fade over time,
But Your truth stands eternal--richly divine.

Love You, Lord.

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