SCRIPTURE: “A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God’s mysteries. In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful.” (1Corinthians 4:1-2 (HCSB)
QUOTE: “The Bible is the story of two gardens: Eden and Gethsemane. In the first Adam took a fall. In the second Jesus took a stand. In the first God sought Adam. In the second Jesus sought God. In Eden, Adam hid from God. In Gethsemane, Jesus emerged from the tomb. In Eden, Satan led Adam to a tree that led to his death. From Gethsemane, Jesus went to a tree that led to our life.” – Max Lucado
NOTE:
All spiritual leaders are to be faithful in carrying out their managing and shepherding responsibilities. The first task of stewardship is obedience. Those who obey in pretense and then fall away will not receive a reward from the Father. Theologian A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) tells us that, “if we are alert enough to hear God’s voice we must not content ourselves with merely “believing” it. How can any man believe a command? Commands are to be obeyed, and until we have obeyed them we have done exactly nothing at all about them.”
And to have heard them and not obeyed them is infinitely worse than never to have heard them at all, especially in the light of Christ’s soon return and the judgment to come. Nothing but a full surrender will satisfy Him. He has given you all, and He asks for all-in return … Be glad and eager to throw yourself headlong into His dear arms, and to hand over the reins of government to Him.
ILLUSTRATION:
In Luke 12: 41-48 Jesus’ response to Peter’s question focused on leadership. The parable demonstrates clearly that various leaders fulfill the master’s will with varying degree of responsibility. Some are not faithful at all, because they lack the knowledge of how things work in the kingdom. Therefore they are eternally separated from God. However, even among spiritual leaders, there are those who function at different levels of commitment. Consequently, there will be different degrees of reward and discipline. Faithful managers will be honored with more responsibility, because as the saying goes, the reward for hard is more work.”
REFLECTION:
How faithful are you in the assignments given to you, either by God or man?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 9, Psalm 59