“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV)
A quick review of our journey: January began with our considering the opening about how we want to be regarded. February considered, what does it mean to be “servants of Christ”? “What is a servant?” March followed with the critically important affirmation that Jesus Christ is Lord. It is essential to identify whose servant we are. April explored servanthood. May looked at the motivation for our service. In June we explored the challenge of service. from John 13:3–5 .
I now want to move to look at the issue of stewardship. Earlier we explored servanthood as performing duties for another. Basically you execute the desires of the master. You are told what to do and you perform. Stewardship expands that action by adding a larger degree of personal decision making and wider latitude for choices. In essence in servanthood you are the direct link between the master’s desire and its accomplishment. In stewardship you have greater freedom to express your unique abilities between the master/s desires and their accomplishment. A steward is required to add skill, wisdom and perspective to the accomplishment of the task.
Look at the application within the first responsibility God gives, time. He has entrusted each 24 hour day into your care to exercise stewardship over it. His desire is that you make wise use of each hour. Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV) “15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Each hour is part of Is divine purpose, Ephesians 1:9–11 (ESV) 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Jesus at the beginning of his earthly ministry announces Mark 1:15 (ESV) ”15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” So our use of time pays an important role in the mystery of His will. In addition there is another pressure point to consider in our wise use of time, John 9:4 (ESV) “4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”
So how do we make the best use of our time? What principles should we apply? First, the highest level of ordering requires faithfulness in macro use. Exodus 20:8–11 (ESV) 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Second spend time with Jesus daily. Acts 4:13 (ESV) “13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Does your use of time always reflect that you are a follower of Jesus? Finally be intentional toward other so that they may see Jesus in you. 2 Corinthians 8:21 (ESV) “21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”
So look at your schedule. Are you using the twenty four hours of each day in the best possible way to fulfill God’s purpose for you? Are you making the most of the time? Satan deceives us that we are bound by the tyranny of time. “ I have to . . . “ But that is seldom the case. More often “I have to,” is the excuse for because I want to.
The challenge is clear, examine your schedule with God’s eyes to see if your are making the most of the time.