All In Daily Devotional March 13 God is Owner, and We are His Managers

 First Redeemer Church

God is Owner, and We are His Managers

 

“For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them.  To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability.  Then he went on a journey.  Immediately the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more.  In the same way the man with two earned two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.  After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’  Then the man with two talents also approached.  He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’  Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’  But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.  And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”                                                                                             Matthew 25:14-30

 

Life is not about us, even when we make it so. These verses sift the human heart and leave in its wake the utter awe of God in light of all we are not. Oh, how necessary is this lesson. 

 

With all that demands our attention, we fight to focus. God’s plan has a profound simplicity that shifts all into place when we slow down. Our Master invites us into His kingdom work for His good and His glory. His is a power beyond our own. 

 

We too quickly place parameters around what we think stewardship looks like. We give it boxes and compartmentalize. We imagine giving to God, in some part, appeases our duty for a while and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. We settle and go right back to our distractions.  

 

The invitation God extends is much, much bigger. It involves our all, not just the parcels we give when we feel like it or know we should. Through it, we get to shout God’s sovereignty and give to Him with grateful & expectant hearts. We get to invest in His economy with what is already His and garner a return greater than we can fathom. 

 

His ways are higher than our own and stand supreme. This big-picture perspective should pervade every corner of our lives. Stewardship is never about what He gives us but what we do with it. 

 

Our Master is coming again. We will give a report on how we handle what He entrusts to us. We are accountable for what is not our own. We steward our time, talents, and treasure wisely because God deserves every bit of us.    

 

We know Him, and we have our charge. One day He will say, “Well done,” and His joy will be ours. Until that day, let’s refuse to bury His good gifts, so glory falls into place where it belongs. 

 

Our Master has given us all we have.

Who are we to withhold anything from Him?

 

We’re All In. 

 

o   Thank You, God, for allowing us to be part of Your kingdom work on earth and for the opportunity to make Your name glorious.

o   Forgive us for burying what You entrusted us, and give us the courage to invest our time, talent, and treasure in Your purposes.

o   Ground our perspective in You and grant us heavenward eyes. 

o   Help our lives be all about You so that our community and world will see Your good name and Your glory in and through us.