Tuesday, September 23, 2008

On Generosity: “The Faithful Steward”

A couple on the mission field once said about faithful stewardship,
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“Faithful stewards are frugal when calculating their own needs and generous in responding to the needs of others.” –C&T Sine.
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A proverb is also apt to get us to think:
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“A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” –Proverbs 11:25 (NIV).
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In the words of Paul, faithful stewards are ‘clothed’ in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.[1]
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In a very real way all of these go a long way toward what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount,
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“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”[2]
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When we put our own needs, wants, and desires on the backburner for others, God has a wonderful way of showing us faithful, and he proves it first of all to us personally. Faithfulness is intrinsically linked the value of trust; we continue doing good despite what we see before us.
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Stewardship is about the effective management of resources; in Christian terms it is more. It’s faithfulness and depending on God to guide and provide. Direction is taken and the key test is back to the Sine’s quote. When all is said and done, others should do better than self.
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When we seek God’s direction in this sort of matter, he is not slow to provide it as he opens our eyes, clothing us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. All we have to do is ask and be willing to share. The more we are prepared to share the more God will bless us, spiritually.
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Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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[1] See Colossians 3:12.
[2] See Matthew 6:33 (NIV).

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