Be A Faithful Steward

Devotion for Monday July 30, 2018

Sing A&M 304; Abu 233 – Fight the good fight with all thy might

Topic: Be A Faithful Steward

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 6

Our bible reading for the day as Paul presented it was prompted by evaluation of humans by the Corinthians. Although the term ‘servants’ (1 Corinthians 4:1) denotes subordination, “stewards” (1 Corinthians 4:2) emphasizes privilege and responsibility. The call to leadership is a call to a pure and trustworthy character (1 Corinthians 4:2).

The Corinthians acted as if they were the judges at the last day, but they had judged much too early (1 Corinthians 4:5 - “before the Lord returns”). Their judgments of Christians were not for edification, but to put a final tag of good or bad, in or out, on the ones they judged. It was a non-ministry judgment that had its source in pride. This is very common even among present day Christians.

According to Family Bible Notes, “Fidelity to God and to the souls of men, in rightly dispensing the truths of the gospel, and in enforcing them by a uniformly holy and consistent example, is required of all ministers of Christ.” This is the emphasis of Paul in verse 2. “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare, poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well’” so says Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr.

It is appropriate to evaluate our calls as servants of whatever category we may be. How faithful are you in your job? Do you do it well as Martin Luther Jnr. suggested? We should remember that our call is to be faithful first to God and then to our employer. May God, grant us that grace in Jesus name. Sing A&M 304; Abu 233

Food for Thought: The supreme quality required in a steward is fidelity to his trust.

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Prayer: Lord God, help me never to betray the trust you have reposed on me.

TITHING (TEST OF OUR OBEDIENCE): Devotion for Monday August 8, 2016

TITHING (TEST OF OUR OBEDIENCE): Devotion for Monday August 8, 2016  

Text: Deuteronomy 26:12 – 15          

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 26:14 – I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that you have commanded me.  

As we round off this special teaching about tithing, we shall be looking at the fifth reason why we should pay tithe. The fifth reason why we should pay tithe is because it is an act of obedience and love for God. Jesus said that if we love Him, we should keep His commandment (John 14:15).

Just yesterday, I read a post on Facebook where somebody was saying we should not pay tithe. Rather, we should give all we have to God as mark of love. He is not absolutely right because such teaching is not ideal. That the early disciple gave all as Luke recorded in Acts of the Apostles may not necessary translate to real giving all in the sense of it. For those of us who pay our tithe, our giving for the service of God does not stop at tithing. We give offering and support the work of God in various ways. So the most important thing is obedience to God’s instruction and leading about stewardship of what He has blessed us with.

What God demands from us is obedience and faith. “Obedience to God is the most infallible evidence of sincere and supreme love to him” – Emmons. In 1 Kings 3:4, Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings because he loved God. In act of obedience, Abraham took his only son Isaac to offer him according to God’s instruction. In Gen. 22:17 and 18, God pronounced blessings on Abraham because he obeyed.

Beloved, how do you obey God’s instructions especially in the area of tithing and offering? How do you demonstrate your love for God when you do not take His words seriously? There is nothing like partial obedience. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and he paid tithe. We should do likewise too. God has blessed us with time, money and other material things. If you love God, you should pay full complement of your tithe. Keeping back will attract God’s anger and it will be unbearable because you are stealing from God (Malachi. 3:8).

Food for Thought: True obedience neither procrastinates nor questions. – Quarles

Prayer: Increase my faith to obey you, O God, in the area of tithing and offering.