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This episode is part of a 3-part series where we talk to Stephen Rohrer about a series of blogs he wrote for Life Financial Group.

 

We are to have the mindset of a steward throughout our Christian life. As we discussed more fully in Part I, Christ emphasizes that His disciples are to view themselves as stewards because they (we) are stewards. And not just any stewards, but His stewards. When we realize that, it changes how we view our gifts (abilities, possessions, or positions) and how we think day-to-day.

 

Stewards are entrusted with things that are not theirs.

1 Peter 4:10-11 explains:

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

This is a radical shift from viewing all our abilities, possessions, and positions as from ourselves, by ourselves, and for ourselves. It is difficult to admit this, because it is humbling and convicting. Suddenly, it is not just about us – it is about Someone far greater.

 

Stewards cannot be ruled by fear.

Fear comes primarily in two ways – internal and external.

Internal Fear: Jesus gives us an example of how internal fear can cause stewards to fail in their duties. Knowing that God gave us everything can be frightening. As the bad steward in Matthew 25 expressed, “‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid” (emphasis added). When we grasp the awesome power of God, we can shrink into self-deprecation. Often the thought of messing something up paralyzes us. Our fear whispers to us that the safest path is not to get on a path at all. If we just don’t do anything, we can’t make a mistake. The problem is that our focus is turned inward. God knows how many talents to give us. He knows what we can handle and what we cannot. Self-deprecation is not trusting God to give us what we can handle. But as Matthew 25:15 says, “to one, he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.”  Look to God. Trust in His wisdom. He gives us what we are capable of stewarding.

External Fear: Internal fears come from looking inward, but external fears take control when our eyes are fixed on the world around us. While we should be wise and watchful (Proverbs 22:3 “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it”), we must not focus on the waves. Practically, this means we should not spend all our time watching “fear-peddlers” (i.e. News). Yes, the “days are evil,” but our duty is to “make the best use of time” (Eph. 5:16). Regardless of the storm around us, our duty is to keep our eyes on Christ and take another step forward into the waves. In Matt. 25, the bad steward was afraid of what might happen, but the master does not accept that excuse.

The bad steward was ruled by both internal and external fear. We should not be. Instead, we should be self-aware (guarding against our own weaknesses) and watchful of danger, but we must carry out the stewardship roles that He has given us.

 

Stewards must be shrewd.

This means they should not be easily duped. They should be clever in their preparations and aware of the sinful realities of the world around them. Jesus says in Luke 16:8-9:

“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”

As stewards, we ought to use our wits. We need to realize how sinful man operates. “The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends” (Prov. 14:20). Is this righteous? No (See James, Chapter 2). But it is nonetheless, a reality of sin-warped society. If God has given us wealth, we need to use it cleverly to further the kingdom.

As with all stewardship traits, this applies to far more than just wealth. If God has given us abilities or positions of influence, we ought to use them shrewdly for the kingdom. Paul gives us many examples of using his abilities and position cleverly for the kingdom. He used his knowledge of Jewish theological disputes to divide the Sanhedrin and escape a dangerous tribunal. At times he flexed his elite status as a Roman citizen to obtain his release from prison (and at times he kept it secret). Ultimately, he used this status to outwit the plotting of the Jewish leaders and employed a legal loophole to bring the Gospel before the court of Caesar. Esther shows us another way to use God-given abilities and positions very shrewdly to out-scheme evil people in the highest levels of earthly power. She and Mordecai played their cards with great cunning – both using, circumventing, and breaking the rules of the court. Unfortunately, as Jesus lamented, “the sons of this world are more shrewd . . . than the sons of light.” We are often tricked into thinking that using all the power, wealth, and ability God has given us to further the kingdom is somehow not appropriate. But Jesus (and all of Scripture) makes it clear that thinking shrewdly is exactly what we should do. Shrewdness is part of a good steward’s mindset.

As you go about your day, renew your mindset. You are a steward of God’s varied grace, entrusted with things to be used wisely. We should not be governed by fear. God has “not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7 KJV). Instead of retreating and burying our talents, we ought to act in power, with love, and be guided by clear thinking. We should think creatively and shrewdly to use every tool at our disposal to build the kingdom.

 

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