I recently was asked this question; what is God saying to you? Well it did not take long for me to respond, because God has been saying much to me about stewardship. This is a wide topic because it addresses everything that God gives us. Stewardship is the management of another persons property, finances, or household affairs. As you might know the manager is you and me. Our Great God expects us to be faithful stewards over many things and I believe our relationship with God is the number one priority on this list. I am mindful of this because in Psalms 27:8 the heart cry of David is his relationship with God; When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." I'm convinced that there is no way we will have revelation of our stewardship role without intimacy. Everything flows out of this relationship with God. Our God desires for us to be faithful managers over our life He has given us. There are scriptures in the Word of God that addresses stewardship. In Matthew 25: 14-29 is an illustrative message about stewardship. It deals with the knowledge of who the possessions belong to and the respect, or caring of those possessions. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them". This true illustration is about accountability. It tells of three individuals. Two knew the Master and the other cared not. The two that knew, recognized and observed that their Master was a Good Man and therefore, desired to please Him. The one that cared not was lazy and slothful. He did not take the time to know the character of the Master. If he had, he would have known that He is the "rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb.11:6). The LORD is all about giving, but He is a wise Investor. In this message text you will observe there was a promotion for those that gave back increase to their Master. Those He called faithful, He rewarded and made them ruler over much (verse 23). The unfaithful servant made excuses and accused his Master of being unjust (Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, and I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground). The man justified his behavior by blaming the Master instead of being accountable for what was given him. In the preceding verse it says, the Master gave according to each ones ability (v.15). Each one was given the opportunity to prosper by investing. The Master was proper in His distribution of talents, because He knew His servants. He was willing though to let each one use his ability to prosper. So when accounts were settled and asked what they did with what was given to them? Two where joyous and said "Master" we have brought increase to what was given to us. The other one was found hiding from his responsibilities and making excuses. We all must present ourselves to Him whom we must give an account. Listen to the response of the Master to the responsible servants who brought increase, His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord' (v.23). Before knowing the LORD I remember struggling with worldly mindsets and trying to conform with society and it's demand for success. I had fear of rejection and being a disappointment in life. When things where hopeless I turned to drugs. I used every excuse to find fault and justify my behavior. I rejected accountability by de-fault (non-participitation). Everything changed when I gave my life to Jesus. He gave me the opportunity to co-labor with Him in my restoration process. It was painful at times to confront heart issues, but I continued to pursue my destiny. The LORD would always hold me accountable for my heart condition. The Word of God addresses this in Hebrews 4:12: Gods Word is a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account". As I began to humble myself and repent for my behavior, I noticed change in my whole man. I began to give of myself, because I understood my life no longer belong to me. I was bought with a price (knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1Pet. 1:19). As I gave of myself to the LORD, the revelation of stewardship began to be big in me. As I became more conformed to His will for my life, I noticed an increase in my responsibilities. The opening of Shiloh and the stewardship of precious lives produced humility and total dependence on Gods grace. It also produced an understanding that God gave me the ability to shepherd Shiloh. Therefore I would be faithful to my calling. With all of this came more rule over much. It is my desire to be like the servants who pleased their Master, by bringing increase to what has been invested to me. I would like to challenge all of you to be faithful with your God given abilities, in bringing increase to the Kingdom of God. He is worthy to be called "Master" and we are entrusted with "Stewardship".
Rocky Fondren
