Coffee With The Lord

STEWARDSHIP IS A BIG DEAL! Ultimately, above all others, we are responsible to God, the one who gives us everything to enjoy!

There’s a parable in the Bible that addresses our stewardship – especially in monetary matters! I read it this morning and spent some serious time evaluating my personal stewardship! It’s found in your Bible in Luke 16:1-13 – It’s called “The Parable of the Unjust Steward.”

A rich guy – the owner of a lot of property and a huge bank account – had a “steward” (an individual he had hired to manage his money). He kept getting rumors (and even some hard evidence) that the guy was “wasting his master goods” – the “auditors” (and others) apparently were not happy with what they were seeing. The “steward” finally was called to account and fired!

What to do? In the words of the Biblical text the “steward” said “what shall I do? So he called in some of his masters debtors and adjusted their indebtedness. His master was impressed with his shrewd industriousness… The story ends – but not the lesson…

Here it is in the words of Jesus… “I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth (“mammon”) so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings! One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth who will entrust to you true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s [especially God’s] who will give you that which is your own?” (vss. 9-12)

The point? As “stewards” who are ultimately responsible to God, we must be wise in how we manage what the Lord has entrusted to us (especially “mammon” – material things/money) in a way that is honoring and pleasing to Him! We do not serve “mammon” – we ultimately serve our Lord and Master – God! To Him we are ultimately responsible and will give account! Believe me, I want the “Righteous Master” – God – to be pleased!

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one despise the other – YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON (material things – especially money)!” (Luke 16:13 ESV)

My advice? Be sure God is pleased with you as a “steward!” Serve Him – not money or possessions!

A personal paraphrase of Colossians 2:6-7 (part of my Bible reading this morning). A great secret for living the Christian life victoriously:

“Since you have received Christ Jesus as your Lord, keep on living ‘in Him.’ Put your roots deep down in Him! Grow strong in what you have been taught and have come to believe! And may you continually overflow with thanksgiving!”

What a way to live! May my life as a follower of Jesus be just like this every day!

I want to challenge you today to do something I did during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” … get your Bible out and read, reflect and respond to Luke 14:25-33! Do it and take it seriously!

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Here’s what I wrote in my Bible journal after doing that today…

The personal cost of true discipleship is great! Jesus gives a “reality check” that is sadly ignored in some discipleship teaching! A person must “count the cost” of truly being a disciple! Those who don’t open themselves up to ridicule by an unbelieving world and inevitable and devastating personal compromise. A person must “forsake all that he/she has to be a disciple” (vs.33)! Oh, may I actually do it!!!