Trust and Obey
Trust and Obey: Living a Life of Faithful Stewardship
In a world filled with reality TV shows and competitions, it's easy to get caught up in the drama of who's faithful and who's not. But what does it truly mean to be faithful in our everyday lives, especially in our relationship with God?
The Parable of the Bags of Gold in Matthew 25 offers profound insights into this question. In this story, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold before embarking on a journey. Upon his return, he finds that two servants have doubled their investments, while the third simply buried his share out of fear.
The master's response is telling. To the two who put their gold to work, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." But to the one who buried his gold, the master's words are harsh: "You wicked, lazy servant."
This parable isn't just about money management. It's a powerful metaphor for how we steward all that God has entrusted to us. And make no mistake – God has entrusted each of us with something of value.
Consider the many areas of our lives where we've been given responsibility:
James, the brother of Jesus, puts it bluntly: "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) Our faith must be lived out through our actions. We are known by our deeds.
So how do we ensure we're being faithful stewards of all God has given us? Here are some key steps:
The beauty of this approach is that God doesn't demand equal results from everyone. In the parable, the master was equally pleased with the servant who turned five bags of gold into ten and the one who turned two into four. What mattered was their faithfulness with what they had been given.
This truth should both challenge and encourage us. We're not called to compare ourselves to others or achieve some impossible standard. Instead, we're simply asked to be faithful with whatever we've been entrusted.
Imagine standing before God at the end of your life. Which response do you want to hear? "Well done, good and faithful servant," or "You wicked, lazy servant"? The choice is ours, but it's a choice we must make now, not then. We must pre-decide to be faithful, committing ourselves to a life of active stewardship.
As we reflect on this, let's remember that being faithful isn't about perfection. It's about consistent effort, a willingness to take risks for God, and a heart that seeks to honor Him with all we've been given. It's about trust and obedience, even when the path isn't clear.
The hymn "Trust and Obey" captures this beautifully:
"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey."
Today, let's commit to being faithful stewards. Let's look for ways to put our gifts, talents, and resources to work for God's kingdom. Let's overcome our fears and excuses, trusting that God can use us despite our imperfections.
Remember, every act of faithfulness, no matter how small it may seem, matters to God. As we live this way, we'll find ourselves growing in faith, impacting others, and experiencing the joy of hearing those words we all long to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
What will you do today to steward well what God has entrusted to you?
In a world filled with reality TV shows and competitions, it's easy to get caught up in the drama of who's faithful and who's not. But what does it truly mean to be faithful in our everyday lives, especially in our relationship with God?
The Parable of the Bags of Gold in Matthew 25 offers profound insights into this question. In this story, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold before embarking on a journey. Upon his return, he finds that two servants have doubled their investments, while the third simply buried his share out of fear.
The master's response is telling. To the two who put their gold to work, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." But to the one who buried his gold, the master's words are harsh: "You wicked, lazy servant."
This parable isn't just about money management. It's a powerful metaphor for how we steward all that God has entrusted to us. And make no mistake – God has entrusted each of us with something of value.
Consider the many areas of our lives where we've been given responsibility:
- Relationships: Our connections with family, friends, and even strangers are a trust from God.
- Work: Whatever our profession, we've been entrusted with tasks and responsibilities.
- Gifts and talents: Our unique abilities are meant to be used, not hidden away.
- Ministry opportunities: Whether formal or informal, we all have ways to serve others.
- Financial resources: How we manage and share our money matters to God.
- The Gospel itself: As believers, we're entrusted with sharing the good news.
James, the brother of Jesus, puts it bluntly: "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) Our faith must be lived out through our actions. We are known by our deeds.
So how do we ensure we're being faithful stewards of all God has given us? Here are some key steps:
- Identify your blessings: Take time to recognize the good things in your life. As James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights."
- Understand their purpose: Hebrews 13:20-21 tells us that God equips us "with everything good for doing his will." Our blessings are meant to be used in service to God and others.
- Overcome fear and excuses: It's tempting to be like the third servant, burying our talents out of fear or insecurity. But we must fight against the lies that tell us we're not good enough or that God can't use us.
- Put your gifts into action: 1 Peter 4:10 encourages us, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."
- Trust and obey: This simple yet profound concept is at the heart of faithful living. We must trust that God has blessed us and obey His command to use those blessings for His glory.
The beauty of this approach is that God doesn't demand equal results from everyone. In the parable, the master was equally pleased with the servant who turned five bags of gold into ten and the one who turned two into four. What mattered was their faithfulness with what they had been given.
This truth should both challenge and encourage us. We're not called to compare ourselves to others or achieve some impossible standard. Instead, we're simply asked to be faithful with whatever we've been entrusted.
Imagine standing before God at the end of your life. Which response do you want to hear? "Well done, good and faithful servant," or "You wicked, lazy servant"? The choice is ours, but it's a choice we must make now, not then. We must pre-decide to be faithful, committing ourselves to a life of active stewardship.
As we reflect on this, let's remember that being faithful isn't about perfection. It's about consistent effort, a willingness to take risks for God, and a heart that seeks to honor Him with all we've been given. It's about trust and obedience, even when the path isn't clear.
The hymn "Trust and Obey" captures this beautifully:
"When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey."
Today, let's commit to being faithful stewards. Let's look for ways to put our gifts, talents, and resources to work for God's kingdom. Let's overcome our fears and excuses, trusting that God can use us despite our imperfections.
Remember, every act of faithfulness, no matter how small it may seem, matters to God. As we live this way, we'll find ourselves growing in faith, impacting others, and experiencing the joy of hearing those words we all long to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
What will you do today to steward well what God has entrusted to you?