3 Principles of Stewardship

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying God’s provision, but we must seek the balance between that and using His resources for His purposes.

This is defined in 1 Timothy 6:17, which says, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”

One day,  each of us will stand before the Lord to give an account of how we used His resources, just like the servants in the Parable of the Talents.

The difference is, we’ll be accountable for everything, not just money, but our time and abilities, too. Those are all resources God has given us, so we must use them wisely.

How do we know where to draw the line? How to enjoy God’s provision without clinging to it and claiming it for our own? That’s something each of us must determine in quiet prayer with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:26 reads, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Trust Him to tell you if you’re enjoying … or squandering … what the Lord has given you.

Colossians 3 reads, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

And of course, Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 25, the Parable of the Talents, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

How we manage God’s provision will determine whether we hear those words someday. We all want to be declared, “good and faithful stewards.”

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• Christian Credit Counselors
• Bankrate.com