In the previous teaching we answered the question, “What should a good steward be like?” That was the question of the steward’s character. Now we will turn to a different question, and that is the question of his duties. What should a good steward do? Three things:
- Follow the instructions received from his Master and carry out precisely the tasks entrusted to him;
- When he does not know what to do, ask — seek guidance, or request further direction for his work;
- Invest — without investment there is no growth, without sowing there is no multiplying, without giving there is no receiving.
TO DO THE WILL OF HIS MASTER…
We have already seen that it is not the steward but the owner who decides what will be done with his property. Imagine that a certain landowner wants to grow wheat on his land. Would he be pleased if his steward used his money to buy cows instead of seed for sowing? Would he keep him on the job, or would he dismiss him? Of course he would relieve him of his position, because the steward’s responsibility is to follow the owner’s instructions regarding the use of his property. He must not make decisions based on his own opinion. In the same way, we too must recognize that God is the One who decides what we, as stewards over His creation, are to do. We are only to follow His instructions.
Perhaps you will ask, “But where do I go to find out what God’s instructions are?” Go to the Bible. It contains the specific instructions we need in order to know how to manage the various things God has entrusted to us. For example, if you ask God, “What should I do with my body and my mind?” look at Romans 12:2:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Or if you ask God, “What should I do with the time You have entrusted to me?” read Ephesians 5:15-16:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Or if you ask God, “God, what should I do with the gospel — the gospel You have entrusted to me, which is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes?” the answer is in Mark 16:15:
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
The manager of a company or business can do nothing other than follow the owner’s instructions. This is the first of his basic duties. In 1 Corinthians 9:16-17 the apostle Paul says:
16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. (1 Corinthians 9:16-17)
Notice that for the apostle Paul there was no question at all of whether to preach or not. God had entrusted him with the gospel, and as His steward Paul would carry out his duties one way or another. The question is how he carries out the trust committed to him — willingly and with joy or with reluctance, with enthusiasm or out of obligation…
TO RECEIVE FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS…
So then, we are speaking about the steward’s duties. The first of these duties is that he do the will of his Master, or that he manage what has been entrusted to him according to the owner’s wishes. The second duty of the steward is that he seek further guidance or request additional direction for his work.
At certain intervals the steward needs to speak with the owner in order to receive further instructions for his work from him. In the same way, we too must speak in prayer with our Heavenly Owner and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God does not give us all His instructions for our life at once. He does it little by little. For example, Abraham was told to leave Ur of the Chaldeans and go to a land that God would show him later.
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
In Hebrews 11:8 it says that he left his native city “even though he did not know where he was going.”
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)
Later God spoke to him and directed him where exactly to stop and where to settle and pitch his tent.
When the risen Christ appeared to Saul of Tarsus, He too did not tell him everything at once (Acts 9:5-6):
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6)
When he entered Damascus, he waited three days until God sent another of His servants named Ananias to open his eyes and baptize him in Christ’s name. Years later Saul, now the apostle Paul, again had to wait for God’s instructions as to exactly where he should go on to preach the gospel (Acts 16:6-10).
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10)
What conclusions can we draw from the biblical examples we have looked at? The steward must do two things. First, follow strictly the instructions already received from his Master, and second, request and expect further instructions for his work, so that he may carry it out exactly in the way God desires in the particular situation. In order to fulfill these two responsibilities, the Christian must read God’s Word and pray. God’s general will he can learn from the Bible, and the specific instructions for his life and ministry he can receive in prayer before God. Prayer is precisely the means by which we are always “online,” through which we keep alive our connection with the Heavenly Owner.
TO INVEST…
The third duty of the steward, besides doing the will of his Master and receiving further instructions, is to make investments — that is, to invest. To make an “investment” means to buy something in order to gain from it. For example, if you buy a little piglet in order to eat it with your family, you are not investing (except in relationships, of course), but simply making a “current expense.” But if you buy that piglet in order to raise it and later sell it for more money than you paid for it and than you spent on raising it, then you are making a good investment.
The good steward or manager must make the investments necessary for multiplying his master’s wealth. For example, in the parable of the talents we read that two of the servants did exactly this. They did not eat and drink the talents, but invested them in some kind of goods (Matthew 25:14-17).
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. (Matthew 25:14-17)
What does it mean “to trade”? It means to buy something as cheaply as possible and to sell it as dearly as possible, doesn’t it? Is there anything more precious than the immortal human soul? Because this is exactly what we want to gain — as many human souls as possible, souls rescued from the fiery hell and brought over into heaven for God’s glory. God desires that we invest — that we invest our time, our talents, our abilities, our money, our material possessions for His work. God desires that we win souls with what He has given us. Remember that the third servant, the one who did not invest his master’s talent, was called “wicked,” “lazy,” and “worthless,” and was thrown where there is only “darkness,” “weeping,” and “gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:26-30).
THE CHRISTIAN WAY OF INVESTING
How do we invest as part of our Christian stewardship? By giving or spending something we have for God’s purposes. We cannot reap without first having sown! So when, as God’s stewards, we make investments, we give something of what we have. It may be our life, time, abilities, money, or something else. But we give it with the conviction that afterward we will receive something more, we will gain, we will have a great return on our investment. And this is exactly what happens. When we give something for God, He usually gives us more, so that we may continue to invest. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 it says:
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
Notice that here giving is compared to sowing. Investment is in fact a sowing. Sowing is an act of faith. Because instead of eating the grain you intend to sow, you place it in the ground and expect it to multiply. If, however, you begrudge sowing it, it will sit and sit, and in the end it will spoil. Only the grain that is sown multiplies. Only what is given cheerfully will be increased. Notice, God desires that we be sowers. Sowers not only of the seed of the gospel, but also sowers of a portion of the means God has entrusted to us. In verse 10 it says explicitly that God gives “seed to the sower” and “bread for food.” This is a wonderful balance. God does not give us only bread. He also gives us seed. On the other hand, God does not want us to sow everything we have; He also gives us “bread for food.” The point is to be wise and to be able to tell the difference between what God gives us for food and what God wants us to sow, so that He may multiply it and we may have more both for sowing and for eating. And in the end the whole ministry is for the purpose of producing thanksgiving and glory to God.
When we give, we must not forget that we are not giving from what is our own, but simply distributing, managing what God has entrusted to us and for which He has made us responsible. Because, strictly speaking, we cannot give or spend anything that is truly ours, since everything we have is in fact God’s. In 1 Chronicles 29:10-17 David says:
10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. (1 Chronicles 29:10-17)
When we invest, when we give something for God and for His kingdom, it is especially important that this giving be generous and be done willingly, without begrudging it, not because others are giving, not because we must, but because we want to. As the apostle Paul says in the passage we read a moment ago (2 Corinthians 9:7):
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
GOD’S INVESTMENT PLAN
God has a plan for making investments, which we, as His stewards, are to follow. According to this plan, we are to divide everything we have into three parts:
- One part for God;
- One part for others;
- One part for ourselves.
ONE PART FOR GOD
From the Old Testament we learn that from the good things God gave His people, He kept the following several things especially for Himself:
First, the first things — the firstborn, the firstfruits, the first city that was conquered from the promised land.
The firstborn.
In Exodus 13:1-2 we read that God kept for Himself the firstborn boys and the firstborn among the livestock.
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.” (Exodus 13:1-2)
The firstfruits.
In Deuteronomy 26:1-4 we read:
1 When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 26:1-4)
The first city that was conquered from the promised land — Jericho. In Joshua 6:16-18 we read of his charge to the warriors of Israel.
16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. (Joshua 6:16-18)
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. Achan took from the devoted things, and this became the reason God withdrew from His people and they lost their next battle.
Second, besides the first things, God also kept for Himself a seventh of the time and a tenth of the income.
A seventh of the time — the day of rest. This was one of the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:9-11 we read:
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:9-11)
A tenth of the income — the tithes. In Leviticus 27:30-32 we read God’s command:
30 “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:30-32)
In the New Testament we do not live under Law, but by grace. But grace is even more than the Law, and the principles remain. God is pleased when we honor Him not only with our songs, but also with our giving for His work. There is no better investment than to give the Lord what belongs to Him, because no one has ever outgiven God!
ONE PART FOR OTHERS
From God’s Word we learn that God is especially concerned not only that we give to Him, but also that we invest what He has given us for the good of others. In Proverbs 28:27 we read:
27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. (Proverbs 28:27)
You see, no one is so poor that they have nothing to give. No one is so incapable that they do not have at least one ability to invest (Matthew 25:15). One has money, another has gifts, a third has animals, a fourth has land, a fifth has winter provisions. Everyone has something. Even if you have nothing, if you are a believer, you still have something to give. Because you have the gospel, and it is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Do you remember what the apostle Peter said to the paralytic who was begging before the Beautiful Gate of the temple: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” If you are so poor that you have nothing to give others, then give them the gospel!
In 1 Peter 4:10 the same apostle Peter exhorts us:
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
In Romans 12:4-8 the apostle Paul says something in the same spirit:
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-8)
As the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 10:8:
“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
When we give to others, we must honor their needs in the following order. First, our family. In 1 Timothy 5:8 the apostle Paul says:
8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)
Second, the needs of Christians, those who are our brothers and sisters from the church, which is God’s family. In Galatians 6:10 the apostle Paul says:
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)
According to the Lord Jesus Himself, everything that has been done for His disciples receives the same reward as if it had been done for Him (Matthew 25:34-40).
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40)
Third, the socially disadvantaged — the poor, orphans, and widows. In James 1:27 the practical apostle says:
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
ONE PART FOR US
When we speak of giving to God and to others, has God not kept something for us ourselves as well? Of course He has! We are His chosen ones. It is true that God wants us to be concerned for the well-being of others as well, instead of thinking only of ourselves. But He also shows a special interest in us ourselves and in our own needs and prosperity. In Psalm 35:27 the inspired psalmist exclaims:
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” (Psalm 35:27)
Yes, the Lord desires that we prosper. He desires that our needs be met. And He provides for us! In Psalm 34:8-10 the Holy Spirit invites us:
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:8-10)
Yes, those who seek the Lord, those who fear His Name, will never be left in want. They boldly say:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalm 23:1)
What a wonderful Master God is! If we as stewards care for His property, He cares far more for us, because we are His. Because He created us, because He loved us, and because He redeemed us with the blood of His own Son.
And so, we are speaking about the “job description” of the steward — his responsibilities and duties. We have seen that the first of his duties is to do the will of the Master, and the second is to ask for further instructions. In order to fulfill his first duty, the Christian must read the Bible and strive to carry out and put into practice the will of God that he discovers in it. In order to fulfill his second duty, the Christian must pray. It is precisely through prayer that he keeps alive his connection with God, learns to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit, and receives wisdom from God and guidance for the specific situations he finds himself in.
The third duty of the steward-Christian is to invest. And he must do this generously and according to God’s investment plan. This means that of everything we have as time, money, and talents, we are to invest one part for God, one part for others, and one part for ourselves. And the most important thing is the way in which we distribute the good things God has entrusted to us. Our investing and giving must be willing and done with joy and enthusiasm. I would even say that we ought to be aggressive in our giving. Not to give timidly and hesitantly, but to give with confidence and zeal. And know this: God will never remain in your debt.