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STEWARDSHIP GIFTS
“… so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Eph. 3:10–12).
What is the goal of our stewardship? This is really the WHY question of stewardship.
Human beings were created to be stewards. We read this in Genesis 1-2. We were created to have dominion and subdue creation in a way that reflects the image of God in which we were created. Our stewardship is to care for the creation entrusted to us by God.
Yet the problem with stewardship is found in Genesis 3. There, in an act of rebellion and sin, stewards named Eve and Adam claimed lordship over that which God had created them to steward. We have a word for claiming ownership over something that belongs to another: theft. But they weren’t just stealing fruit. They were stealing God’s place and God’s glory!
Ever since that fateful day, we’ve done the same. What God has given us to steward, we have attempted to own. So, God once again shows His glory in establishing the eternal purpose of Jesus Christ. In going to the cross, Jesus forgives us and restores us to the task of once again stewarding what God has given us.
Today we pray again that we would be able to recognize the simple gifts the Lord has given us to steward for the sake of the Gospel. In this we make known the manifold wisdom of God. As we faithfully steward the simple gifts God has entrusted to us, we point people to the redemption and restoration of our stewardship through Jesus Christ.
Remember, the world sees Jesus through YOUR stewardship. What are you showing the world in how you steward God’s simple gifts?
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