By Jason Hill, General Treasurer
The best way to sum up the answer comes from a well-known hymn that says, “God will only use a soldier He can trust.” A steward is someone who is in charge of something on behalf of another. He is not the owner, but is responsible for what he is given and must answer to the owner. The question we should be asking ourselves is, “Does God trust me?”
The only way we can know the answer to this is to compare ourselves, through our choices, to the Word. Through the Bible we can learn how God views money and all that surrounds it. Jesus referenced money more than any other subject while He was teaching. This indicates that it is not only an important part of our lives, but also we need to take it seriously.
We are told in Romans 12:2 to not be “…conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The first step in knowing what it means to be a good steward is to compare how you view money, materials, and all the things you’re responsible for in this world against God’s view of it through His Word. As stated in Psalm 24:1—your home, cars, electronics, and all you possess belong to God. He owns everything. Your name might be on the receipts and legal documents, but it can be taken away at His discretion. This means you must seek to please Him with how you care for it. For any of us to please God with what we have, we must submit it all to Him. How is this done practically, and not just in word? By learning what the Word says about all of it, not just some of it, and following it with all our heart.
The story of the servants and talents in Matthew 25 ends with the wicked servant losing his talent—only to see it given to the man who had the most. Why did the lord give to the servant who had started with the most? The other faithful servant had also doubled his talents, why not entrust him with this extra one? Because the lord knew the skill needed to handle talents (the money of their day). It is more difficult for one to double a million dollars in the same amount of time as it is for another to double one thousand dollars. Both faithful servants had done well, but the greater proved himself to be more capable, and was entrusted with more. Can God trust you with what you’ve been given to invest for His work?