Stewards of Service
The Bible says that nature speaks of the Glory of God, which
is His character. Sister White stresses the importance of this by telling us to
study the lessons in nature. She says in Our High Calling, page 253:
“Everything about us teaches us from day to day lessons of our Father's love
and of His power, and of His laws that govern nature and that lie at the
foundation of all government in heaven and in earth.” Let’s take a tree as an
example. A mature tree uses precious earthly resources: it occupies space,
utilizes air (Carbon-dioxide we exhale), water, and absorbs sunlight. In turn,
we use the oxygen the tree exhales, and we take advantage of its shade. Is this
a fair exchange? Many trees yield fruit that when consumed, is not only tasteful
to our palate, but it is good for our health. Trees cannot consume fruits, as
can we. There are other parts of the tree, which we utilize as well, such as
the leaves and the wood of the tree for papers as well numerous other products.
It seems that human beings benefit more from trees then the three do from us.
So, all the resources that trees use, end up being for our benefit. And, it
seems that trees do this – that is: serve us – selflessly.
Well wouldn’t you say, If trees were stewards they would manage
God’s entrusted resources to benefit us, mankind. Our analogy of the tree
is really on of stewardship and serving others. When a steward is faithful to
God, his service is selfless. But, in our natural sinful state, we are selfish.
We think only of ourselves. When we give to others or do for them it is because
we expect the service to be of benefit for us. Often we expect a tangible
return, such as money or other favors – tickets, meal, gift certificate, etc.
Other times the benefit we derive from serving others is intangible. We want to
be seen to gain favor. Frequently, we serve out of feelings of guilt, coercion,
or fear. We hope to be relieved from doom. Thus we misuse God’s resources for
our own benefit, even though we claim we are using these resources to serve
others.
A true Christian - at whatever level - is a faithful
Steward. Just as a mature tree yields fruit, he or she will yield fruit
(Galatians 5:22-25). The Spirit of God that dwells in him springs forth this
fruit, because the fruit is the character of God himself. Therefore, service is
not out of guilt, coercion, or fear. The true Christian does not expect to gain
absolution, freedom, or peace. The service of a true Christian, in whom the
Spirit dwells, is motivated by Agape – God’s unconditional love – and the
driving force is really gratitude. A true follower of Christ gives and serves
freely, for he has received freely (Matthew 10:8).
Typically we do not equate stewardship with the selfless
serving of others. As a steward serves his Master by caring for his assets, he
does as the Master wishes. What are the Master’s wishes? “…but to do justly,
and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). Perhaps the
following text from Matthew 25 will illustrates what this
means:
Matthew
25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Matthew
25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Matthew
25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
Matthew
25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world:
Matthew
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Matthew
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison,
and ye came unto me.
Matthew
25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee
an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Matthew
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed
thee?
Matthew
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Matthew
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.
Matthew
25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me,
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew
25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me no drink:
Matthew
25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me
not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Matthew
25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did
not minister unto thee?
Matthew
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Matthew
25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
Faithful stewards are sheep who unknowingly serve their Lord
by serving those in need. Unfaithful stewards are the goats who served others
but for personal gain. What is the difference between the two? It is Agape –
God’s unconditional love. The type of love that the Father is, which drove Him
to give to all human beings “…His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This love made Jesus weep
because of the harm Sin had done to His humanity (John 11:35). This love can
only be found in us when we permit the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. This love
makes us faithful stewards who serve others, as they are needful, as we were
serving Christ Himself. Will you let the Spirit transform you into a faithful
steward serving others as the Lord wishes?
Raul Diaz & Maria Greaves-Barnes
Originally Published on Saturday, September 17, 2005
