Food for Thought

I would like to begin by saying, that this is the last verse in the Bible I would choose to comment on. I feel it is the most misunderstood of all scriptures in the bible, but I would like to touch on a very small section today.

A couple of things that I had never noticed when reading through the book of Luke. The parable of the unjust steward, which starts out with a “rich man” is sandwiched between the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11) and the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19). The father of the prodigal son is obviously wealthy because, he has stored up an inheritance for his children and then, we have the “rich man” in the story of Lazarus. Although, riches are mentioned several times through these two chapters, it is not the focal point of the story that I want to share. The steward was being fired from his position, for wasting the possessions of the rich man and was told to “give an account of your management.”

Stewardship is given the definition for overseeing or managing something. We as Christians, are also Gods stewards. I had a pastor for years who taught on stewardship. He would remind us that we are stewards to God with our time, our talents and our resources. I have found this to be so true in my life, yet like the unjust steward, I have also failed to dedicate my best in these areas.

In this story the unjust steward is fired from his position but commended because, of the actions he took to recover a portion of his masters goods, and it was noted as a wise or shrewd decision. Shrewdness is defined as to show good judgement, to make good decisions, to make wise choices. The bible does not say that the steward was sorry for what he had done, he was just worried about his own future, after his dismissal.

As a Christian, we make mistakes and fail to be good stewards to God. We then pray and ask for his forgiveness, and He does, every time. Just as the steward was shrewd, for his own future and benefit, we should use wisdom and good judgment for the benefit of others and Gods work, that He has assigned us. It has been said that we as Christians, have been entrusted with material possessions, and we are to use them for the eternal benefit of others.

In the book of 2 Timothy 2:20 it states that “in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.” Go and be a vessel of honor for Him.