Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 9- Empty the Heart of Selfishness
It is to be regretted that the church today feels so little inclination to express thanksgiving to the Lord for enriching her with His grace, for giving her His talents of means, that she may have wherewith to supply His treasury. {CS 48.2}
The barren portions of the Lord’s vineyard cry to God, saying, “Men have neglected to care for me.” By allowing their fellow beings to remain in the bondage of want and degradation, men and women allow Satan to reproach God for permitting His children to suffer for the necessaries of life. God is insulted by the indifference of those to whom He has entrusted His goods. His stewards refuse to notice the distress which they might relieve. Thus they bring a reproach upon God. {CS 48.3}
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Proverbs 15:27
Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. Isaiah 1:23
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean [it] afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. Deuteronomy 24:19-21.
Our God is a loving, kind, and merciful God to all His children. Should not we be the same towards our brothers and sisters? Has not God blessed us abundantly to take notice of others that are in need? The barren portions of God’s vineyard are crying out for help. God has appointed us co-workers with Him. He has blessed us with means and we are to give thanks to God by helping the needy with the necessities of life. God is insulted if we become indifferent to the needs of those less fortunate. We do not want to be a reproach upon God. As faithful Christians and members of the church, give and share of your harvest lest you trouble your own house.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We come to the foot of Your throne in thanksgiving and praise. We thank you and praise You for providing for all of our needs in abundance. We gladly return the portion You have asked for as faithful stewards of the vineyard in which we labor. We pray for Your continued blessings that no one goes without the necessities of life or neglected of care. We pray that You increase our faith that we may give freely and let not greed enter into our hearts. Let us not insult You by becoming indifferent with the goods entrusted to us. We thank You for all Your blessings, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
