Checking Under the Hood: Stewardship
Matthew 25:14-30

Pastor Todd began by reading the minds of some of his listeners: “Stewardship is just a euphemism for giving. Here comes the annual arm-twisting to get us to give more money to the church.” Then he added, surprisingly: “It’s worse than you think! If talking about managing your money feels intrusive, what about talking about managing your whole life?” That’s really what the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is about.

The first lesson about stewardship in the parable is that the Master owns everything. The servants are his; the property is his. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. Take a few minutes to make a list of what any human observer would call yours: the money – income, savings, investments – and all the other stuff, like your home, car, truck, timeshare, boat … all your varied possessions. (Don’t let me forget the hoard of things I’m storing “in case I need it someday.”) And what about our time, the 24 hours that make up each day? Do I realize that all of it is God’s? Am I prepared to admit that none of it is mine? Pray about that and then, as you engage with “your” property throughout the day, ask God, “What do you want me to do with this? How can I use this for Your kingdom?”

Another lesson about stewardship taught by the parable is that the Master distributes his property judiciously. He distributes money to his three servants in unequal amounts, according to ability. Todd noted that our culture cries out, “Unfair!” A Christian says, “God is sovereign. He gets to decide, and He determines the outcome.” And yet, how often do I say in my heart, “Unfair!” when someone else gets the promotion I wanted, has a large income when I’m just scraping by, has a spouse when I am single or children when I am childless? When someone else has the ability to travel when I don’t or has robust health when I suffer from a chronic health condition? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts for any feelings of resentment or jealousy. Those feelings are dangerous, not only because they are expressions of coveting but also because they imply that God is unfair, maybe downright mean. Affirm before the Lord: You have given me what I need to accomplish Your purpose for my life.

Let’s pray for a consuming desire to be faithful to our Master, to please Him instead of ourselves. May my heart’s strongest longing be to hear Him call me a “good and faithful” servant, and may I shrink back in horror at the prospect of hearing Him call me a “wicked and slothful” servant.

Calvary Family

Winter camp for our youth is next weekend. Thirty-one junior high and high school students and eight adult leaders will travel on Friday afternoon to Angeles Crest Christian Camp, returning Sunday. Austin will be teaching on three paradoxical elements of the faith: die to self, live in Christ; freedom through slavery to Christ; and joy in suffering. Of course, plenty of fun and games will also be offered! Pray that each student will encounter the living God for himself or herself next weekend.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

* This is an abbreviated version of our weekly prayer blog. For the full version, including congregation prayer requests, subscribe here.