Stewardship
April
is that time of year where in most parts of
our country the color
green starts
showing up in yards, gardens, orchards and fields. The color green in nature is
another reminder of the goodness of God in providing for the physical needs of
all His creatures. The color green also reminds us that God keeps His promises,
such as this one recorded in Genesis 8:22 (NIV):
“As
long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and
winter, day and night will never cease.”
God also made this promise of His goodness to the children of Israel as they were in the process of moving into the Promised Land: “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live safely in your land.” (Leviticus 26:3-5 NIV)
God is so good that He also provides for the physical needs of those who do not believe in or worship Him as the only true God. Dr. Martin Luther reminded us of this when he explained the petition “Give us this day our daily bread” in this way: “God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to all the wicked, but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”
In Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) we read these words: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
This passage reminds us as God’s people that our God is both good and gracious. We see His goodness in meeting all our physical needs but we see His grace (undeserved love) in supplying all our spiritual needs. The Holy Spirit uses the reading, studying, preaching and teaching of God’s word to bring sinners to repentance and empower them to become the children of God. Children of God are His stewards who use everything at their disposal for God’s purposes. God’s stewards, like green plants, receive the necessary nourishment to grow in their faith and in producing good works, such as giving generously of the financial resources, time and unique abilities.
May all of us as God’s redeemed stewards, like plants on the earth, bud, blossom, mature and produce good fruit (words and actions) that brings glory to our good and gracious God and blessings to His people.
In His Service
Stewardship Committee
