Steward

Watching my grandchildren play contently on the floor, absorbing every knew experience, and learning the fine nuances of life with other human beings. Each personality is unique, tempered by parental discipline and love. They grow up too fast and have so much to learn and experience. Like their parents before them they are gifts from God, given for a short period of time to participate in the process of salvation. 

We are stewards of their little lives. We don't own them, they are on loan by their creator. The responsibility is awesome and overwhelming; frustrating and full of joy; rewarding and painful. As stewards we have leeway in our approach, but specific instruction in the content. We are to raise them in the fear and admonition of The Lord.

There is a broader stewardship that we have been given. As children of God we are now stewards of His grace. He has called us to administer it for the benefit of others and for His glory. It is a responsibility that comes with the power of the Spirit, the granting of gifts, and the promise of His presence. 

The Apostle Paul was a steward of God's grace to the Gentiles, our call will be different but just as specific. Our stewardship may be to our family, our neighbors, or a people group around the world. In whatever capacity God calls us we have leeway to be creative in our approach, but specific in its content. We are stewards of His grace. 

Our message is always the grace of God, the reconciliation of man to his creator. It might come through teaching our children, feeding the poor, political activism, or waging peace in the world. The avenue of our call is not important, it is the message that is paramount. If the message is overwhelmed by the venue, lost in the muddle, silenced in the noise then we have failed in our stewardship and the enemy has won. 

I pray that my grandchildren will grow up to be well disciplined productive members of society, but if their eternal condition is neglected then their stewards have failed in their responsibility. If peace is achieved in the word but God's grace is not presented then we have failed as stewards. 

I am glad that my stewardship is accompanied by the promise of God's presence and power. It is for that reason we can step out in confidence that we can be successful in our responsibility as stewards of God's grace. I'm just saying...

"the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you," Eph. 3:2