Bible Reading: Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Matt 25:29(KJV).
This is the fundamental biblical principle of stewardship that runs from the beginning to the end of the written Word of God. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Cor 4:2 (KJV). The power of a fruitful life is in making the most of everything we have. This is a powerful principle and applies to the believer and even to the nonbeliever as long as we are in this world. Responsibility and diligence in general, are rewarded in this world, and for the believer, these rewards extend into eternity.
Our life is a gift from God, you can waste it, spend it, or invest it. There are many things to waste life on by not taking responsibility. You can spend it on your career, hobby, acquiring certain possessions or you can invest it in profitable endeavours. Jesus taught that the greatest use of your life is to invest it in that which outlasts it.
When God entrusts us with certain things, He will demand an account for how we managed them. The rewards apply to the final judgment, but they also apply to the entirety of our life. Every minute of every day we are given the opportunity to make the most of the time and resources we are given. To waste those opportunities is to show God that we are not ready for them. He is the all wise God and will lessen our capacity until we show that we can be trusted with more.
If we are willing to take what God has given us and boldly use it, holding nothing back and offer it up to His glory, then He will increase our efforts. On the other hand, if we are so worried about how demanding and ruthless our master is that we don’t use whatever we have, then what we have will be taken away. But it won’t just be taken away. It will be taken from us, and we will be punished based upon our reverential fear of God, and what we have will be given to someone who is willing to boldly use it to bring honor and glory to God “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” – Luke 12:48(KJV).
Using whatever we have to glorify God is not a reckless faith, but a bold, grace-inspired, adventurous yearning to do great things with the gifts God has given us. To that kind of grace-emboldened heart, God gives more grace because he knows he has found a person who will share it boldly with others, just as he has shared it with us!
Prayer: Father, help us make our lives count. Help us not to be like those who are simply living for today, but for eternity, in Jesus name.
Pastor Alfred Samuel