Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 17—The Message of Malachi
But just as surely as God’s word is given to us, just so surely will He require His own with usury at the hand of every human being. If men are unfaithful in rendering to God His own, if they disregard God’s charge to His stewards, they will not long have the blessing of that which the Lord has entrusted to them.... {CS 82.4}
The Lord has given to every man his work. His servants are to act in partnership with Him. If they choose, men may refuse to connect themselves with their Maker; they may refuse to give themselves to His service, and trade upon His entrusted goods; they may fail to exercise frugality and self-denial, and may forget that the Lord requires a return of what He has given them. All such are unfaithful stewards. {CS 83.1}
A faithful steward will do all he possibly can in the service of God; the one object before him will be the great need of the world. He will realize that the message of truth is to be given, not only in his own neighborhood, but in the regions beyond. When men cherish this spirit, the love of the truth and the sanctification they will receive through the truth, will banish avarice, overreaching, and every species of dishonesty.—The Review and Herald Supplement, December 1, 1896. {CS 83.2}
Everyone’s calling in life is to serve the Lord with gladness. God has blessed each person with different talents to apply while proclaiming the everlasting gospel to the four corners of the world. There is no place, near or far, that is to be left out. This requires some sacrifice on our part. However, as partners with God, we can yoke up to Him because His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We will receive the blessing for the work God has entrusted to all. As faithful stewards, use your God given talents to do anything and everything you can to serve God. Let us receive sanctification for our love of the truth.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for allowing us to yoke up to You, as Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. We thank You for giving Your children different talents to apply in carrying forward Your plan of salvation. We pray that You continually watch over us, as we go near and far, to proclaim Your everlasting gospel to those who do not know or have the message of truth. We pray that as we faithfully go out as stewards of what You have entrusted to us that we may help to gather souls for Your heavenly kingdom. Bless us, keep us, and forgive us of sins. We thank You and praise You, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
