Stewards
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
I Peter 4:10
We don’t often use the word steward in our everyday conversation. A steward in the ancient world was a man who had delegated authority to act on behalf of a greater authority.
Cities had stewards as did large landowner’s. Today, ranches have managers and wealthy owners of estates have caretakers.
The position of a steward entailed great benefit and blessing. The caretaker may not have been wealthy himself and yet he had the benefit of all the resources of his master.
As such, to be a steward was to find oneself in a place of great opportunity.
Being a steward also entailed great responsibility. Managing the affairs and resources of someone else was also a tremendous burden for which one would give an accounting.
To abuse those under him or to squander the resources of the master would bring the master’s wrath down upon his head. The owner may be absent and the steward may forget that all these things are not his own but that they belong to another.
When the master returned, there would be a day of reckoning.
In this verse in Peter we are reminded that we are stewards of God’s varied grace. He entrusts gifts to us.
These gifts bless us and others. They are to be utilized for His glory- not just our gain.
When he returns, we will give account. Are you wisely and faithfully fulfilling your stewardship?
Because of grace,
Tim
