We need to remember that everything belongs to God and as such whatever we have we are to demonstrate good stewardship. Let’s consider the gifts of our wives, kids, and others that God has put into our lives and what it would mean and look like to be good stewards of them. Called to be faithful to God and others, we must also steward the possessions entrusted to us. Ever wondered how to be faithful with what God has given you?
What is stewardship?
Rooted in biblical teachings, stewardship highlights the duty to manage resources faithfully. In 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV), Paul emphasizes proving faithfulness with entrusted trust. This underscores that God has given us gifts, relationships, and possessions. As stewards, we must manage them with integrity and devotion.
Stewardship of God’s Stuff:
One essential aspect of stewardship is recognizing that everything ultimately belongs to God. Psalm 24:1 (NIV) declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This foundational truth serves as a guiding principle in understanding that our possessions, relationships, and abilities are divine blessings for which we are accountable. When it comes to our families, Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) encourages parents to “bring [their] children up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” highlighting the responsibility of nurturing and guiding our families in a manner that honors God.
Being a Good Steward:
Being a good steward extends beyond material possessions; it encompasses the faithful management of time, talents, and relationships. Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the significance of using and multiplying the gifts and abilities God has given us. By investing in our relationships, such as with our spouses and children, and cultivating a loving and supportive environment, we fulfill the calling to be faithful stewards.
Holistic Approach to good stewardship
In conclusion, stewardship is a holistic approach to life that acknowledges God as the ultimate owner of all things. To be faithful with what God has given us involves recognizing the divine origin of our gifts, managing them with diligence and wisdom, and fostering a loving and God-honoring environment in our relationships. Through prayer, seeking God’s guidance, and relying on the wisdom found in Scripture, we can navigate the journey of stewardship with faithfulness and obedience to God’s calling.
This year I am using the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas and applying it towards being dads. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to get to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this one for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit: DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: DOING WHAT HE DID
Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
Firstly, as husbands, let’s faithfully honor the trust bestowed upon us in marrying our wives. Additionally, as fathers, let’s prove faithful in raising our children, honoring our wives and God. Therefore, let’s be the dads who realize the requirement for having received from God that we need to be good stewards and prove faithful to what He has given us.
Be The Dads who teach our kids to be good stewards:
Today’s Devotional speaks to how as dads we need to be teaching our kids to be good stewards.
Acknowledging parents’ contributions, we actively hold the responsibility to guide our kids in making wise decisions about resource usage for developing good stewardship habits.
God’s Word tells us that the earth is the Lords and everything in it, and so we need to be the dads who realize that and choose to be good stewards of what God has given to us. Today’s Devotional speaks to how “the gifts of God: life, breath, talents, resources, relationships” and even in how in the beginning God called Adam to be a steward of the garden and through Jesus we are called to be stewards of even more. Today’s Devotional speaks to the “even more” as “the grace of God, spiritual gifts, and the gospel.”
Good Stewardship by using what we have to do like Jesus:
Today let’s be the dads who make the conscious decision to use what God has given us “to accomplish what Jesus would do in our place.” Today’s Devotional points us to Luke 19:10 which says:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Today’s Devotional closes with this challenge for us as dads: “Are we being good stewards? We should be doing the same thing Christ would do in our place – seeking and saving the lost.” Starting at home then our neighborhood, and into our broader community and world.
W.H. Greaves
