Jesus told His disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ Luke 16:1-2
“Your money and your goods are not your own. They are only committed to you as stewards, to be used for him who committed them to you. 1 Pet. 4:9, 10, “Use hospitality one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” A steward has no business with his master’s goods, to use them any otherwise than for the benefit of his master and his family, or according to his master’s direction. He hath no business to use them, as if he were the proprietor of them. He hath nothing to do with them, only as he is to use them for his master. He is to give everyone of his master’s family their portion of meat in due season.
But if instead of that, he hoards up his master’s goods for himself, and withholds them from those of the household, so that some of the family are pinched for want of food and clothing. He is therein guilty of robbing his master and embezzling his substance. And would any householder endure such a steward? If he discovered him in such a practice, would he not take his goods out of his hands, and commit them to the care of some other steward, who should give everyone of his family his portion of meat in due season? Remember that all of us must give account of our stewardship, and how we have disposed of those goods which our Master has put into our hands. And if when our Master comes to reckon with us, it be found that we have denied some of his family their proper provision, while we have hoarded up for ourselves, as if we had been the proprietors of our Master’s goods, what account shall we give of this?”
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (1732) section III.
A dear friend passed away whilst I was in the Philippines, Hugh Fowler. I knew him as the patriarch of our Tuesday morning Bible study. Others knew him as father, grandfather, great grandfather, or senator.
He loved Jesus deeply and was a faithful and generous manager of God’s resources. When I read this post with its deep and pressing words, it moved me to think of Hugh, who has just given account for his stewardship.
I am confident he heard the words, “Well done!” but the question is, will you?
The other place my mind went this morning was the manna story of the Old Testament. God provided enough for each person. Those who tried to hoard for future days had it all turn to maggots.
The word for today’s post is account. Whatever path we choose with the master resources, we will have to give an account for our stewardship. For years I rationalized my disobedience as good stewardship.
Don’t let it happen to you. Put them in play. Map a plan to give generously this year end.