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Called To Be Both
The two different translations of the bible I have this scripture as “the parable of the shrewd manager” or “the parable of the unjust steward”. These words steward and manager are complete polar opposites in my book. A manager is one with authority and a steward is someone that reports to one in authority. I think God calls us to be both. The larger picture here is whatever we do, be it serving, stewarding or managing- how are we using “His goods” (gifts and possessions) to His glory and not wasting them? This is quite a convicting verse….wow!!! As Christians we are “hired men and women” for Him. This makes us look at our position of stewardship with Christ as our Master and that we are managers of His kingdom. He has given us responsibility to manage, teach and serve.
Krista, I agree that this is a convicting verse. How am I using God’s gifts for His glory? I think I can rattle off a couple of ways, but am I truly maximizing His investment. I long to be good stock, I long to be a good investment, I long to hear God say to me well done my faithful steward.
So I ask myself, if God called me to give an account of what I have done with his assets tommorrow, then what can I do today to end on a good note. What can I do today to make His investment worthwhile. I have done nothing to earn my place of stewardship, but I can do much to make my stewardship excellent.
I agree with Herb in that I feel I am using some of God’s gifts the way He would want, but I doubt I’m maximizing…I am sure I’m probably wasting some of his goods. How to remedy that is an internal struggle that continues in me daily.
Krista …
Thanks so much for writing and sharing. Responsibility with our faith — what a concept! Intentionality. Forethought. Purpose. Design. It’s so easy to keep God on such a high and lofty plane, that managing and stewarding my discipleship can get lost.
Dear God, help me to steward and manage my day and resources for you. Help me to use the brain and resources you have given me. God, I pick up the gauntlet of challenge to be a responsible manager/steward with my faith and relationship with You.
Thanks for this, Krista! I think I’m often satisfied when I have a moment of generousity toward others. I know, however, that I am not as wise as I could be with my resources, and how much more could I be blessings others (and glorifying God) if I was? I keep thinking of that scene from Schindler’s List where Oskar Schindler is regretting he didn’t save more people. I don’t want to reach the end of my life and look back and say, “I could have done so much more…” God help us with this!
Thanks Krista. Your insight into the manager-servant roles we have struck home.
I’m kind of simple-minded. I have to dumb things down to very basic words and phrases and then understand the lesson by analogy and simile – “This is like that.” I’ve been on both sides – manager and employee, in the middle – in authority and answering to it at the same time. We all are. There’s a couple other business buzz words that came to mind when I read this: Accountability (“Give me an account…”) and responsibility (The owner demanded an account from the one he put in charge).
A friend of mine came up with a list of tongue-in-cheek rules of life (“The Dallas Rules” http://bigmenoncontent.com/about/rules/). Rule #10 states “People rise to the level of expectation but sink to the level of accountability.” So for my personal application, the lesson gets very simple: If God holds me accountable for the management of His resources then what should I do with them?
The last business type word that applies is “empowerment.” In contrast to many businesses that give lip service to “empowered employees,” God really does empower us to get the job done. Given that is true, how come I don’t?