1 Corinthians 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. English Standard Version (ESV)
Yesterday we considered how we are to keep ourselves "free" from the love of money. Many people will hire money managers to make decisions on how their money should be invested and distributed to make the greatest gain, to increase their "holdings". Just that word "holdings" should cause us to see how easy that can become greed. The Christian is to their money, their finances to make a different kind of gain. To invest in family, in the local church and in ministries , serving others for the kingdom, for the body of Christ and for His glory.
In the same way, today's verses, while speaking of leaders, should also remind us to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with spiritually. We can't hold onto and be selfish about spiritual blessings, they must be shared in the circumstances of our lives, they must be spread around to be fully effective. David Jeremiah writes, "circumstances don't create character; they reveal character. Arm your self today with the integrity of Christ". This would include integrity in being good stewards, good managers not only of our finances but of what God has revealed of Himself to us. This will come from a gratitude of what He has done for us.
John Piper writes, "The key to unlocking a heart of gratitude and overcoming bitterness and ugliness and disrespect and violence is a strong belief in God, the Creator and Sustainer and Provider and Hope Giver. If we do not believe that we are deeply indebted to God for all we have of hoped go have, then the very spring of gratitude has gone dry." May we be good stewards of God's mysteries and never let our "spring of gratitude run dry".
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
1 Corinthians 4:1-4Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Faithful Manager
4 A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. 2 In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. 3 It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by any human court.[a] In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord.
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