My family and I own a small farm in Kansas. We love the farm. It has become a place for solace, rest and re-booting. While there, I enjoy walking the dirt roads, looking at the vast amount of space around me, and pondering. Last week, I was walking the dirt road thanking God for this incredible blessing of land and the people who take care of it for us. God used the opportunity to teach me what he means by being a steward of his blessings.
Steward – a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.
God teaches us to be stewards; but in today’s world, it is hard to understand and relate it to our lives in a meaningful way. How can we live out what we don’t understand?
As owners, we have entrusted the care and management of our farm land to someone else. We fully trust his judgement. He is thoughtful, works hard, studies, consults and researches to make good decisions. We are the owners, he is the steward.
Just as we trust our farm to someone else, God fully trusts us to take good care of His possessions. No matter what the possessions are – whether tangible possessions like a car, a home or clothes, or intangible possessions like talents, knowledge, or intellect – all are gifts from God. He fully trusts us to make good decisions.
Our farm manager (steward) receives an income from our land. As owners, we too receive a portion of the profit from the land. We receive a small portion, he receives a large portion – just like us and God! Do you see it? I give God a small portion and he lets me have the large portion. Extraordinarily amazing! He wants me (us) to be good stewards with our portion, using it to take care of our families, and others.
Changing our mindset from owner to steward changes everything. We are stewards of ALL things. When we change our thinking, we live differently. We have peace, comfort, and best of all, the weight of striving is lifted! (His burden is easy)
What a blessing and honor to be trusted. Thank you God for entrusting us with your creation and incredible blessings – both the seen and the unseen.
For the love of family,
What illustrations do you have in your life which help you have a deep understanding of being a steward? Please share.
