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Wednesday, July 19, 2023

 

                         STEWARDSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER

                                     God Uses Stewards to Manage

 

            Continuing my discussion on stewardship and discipleship, I want to focus on another statement I have previously shared:

            God uses stewards to manage His resources.[1]


            The following are the scriptures that the article by Christian Stewardship Network cites about God using stewards to manage.

Genesis 2:15 – “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

1 Peter 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.”

Luke 12:48 – “But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

Matthew 25:21 - “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

            Reading this statement reminded me of something I found many years ago when I was preparing for my first workshop on stewardship, and that is the source of the word steward, which is sty-ward, the person in charge of caring for the pigs.

 


            With that as the source of the word steward, the idea that God uses stewards to management His resources makes a lot of sense! But this statement has two parts. The first is that we are stewards, not owners, but managers. The second part of the statement is that the resources are God’s!

            So, as a steward, we are tasked with caring for what is owned by another, and our every need is cared for.

            As we continue to discuss stewardship and discipleship in the upcoming summer weeks, to help us prepare for our stewardship and discipleship often done in the fall, remember, stewardship and discipleship have to work together. One cannot exist without the other. We aren’t effective stewards if we aren’t disciples, and we aren’t disciples if we aren’t using the resources give to us to further God’s kingdom.

            Stay tuned for this ongoing stewardship conversation.

            If you wish more information on this, or would like to discuss stewardship and its relationship with discipleship, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com. I’d be happy to help.



[1] Stewardship Education that Builds Disciples, Furlong, Jessica and Dick, Don (Christian Stewardship Network), https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com.

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