And to one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, to each according to his own ability;
and immediately he went on a journey.
(Matthew 25:15)
5 days before Christmas let us explore the concept of stewardship.
This well-known scripture is about the talents given to the servants when the master leaves. This parable is usually connected to the stewardship of money. The real lesson is that Jesus wanted to teach about the stewardship of things - taking care of someone else’s possessions. It could be money, property, jewelry, animals, or many other items.
It is important not to just know a definition of stewardship but to also see stewardship fulfilled in three areas of our lives: finances, time, and talents. Being good stewards also means we must understand the three types of giving mentioned in the Bible. First is the tithe, a tenth of our income. Tithing is given in obedience to a command to give. Second is offerings, a financial gift above the tithe and given from the heart. Third is a sacrificial gift, a financial gift that is made available when an item or action has been given up and the funds used to give the sacrificial gift. The sacrificial gift is above a tithe.
There is one thing we must keep in mind. None of us would be stewards if a baby had not been born. A baby changes everything.
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Many thanks to Randy Tompkins, President of Cornerstone Consultants and member of the 4:12 Network for sharing and permitting me to share these Christmas devotions with you. I hope they will serve as a daily reminder for you of the meaning of Christmas and will encourage you to be a leader who points people toward Christ during these very special days.
