Faithfulness 2

Hello Everyone,

The characteristic of faithfulness needs to be cultivated in our Trustworthiness of Stewardship

The idea of trustworthiness is further reflected in our concept of a “trustee” in connection with stewardship.

In 1 Corinthians 4:1 we are told, “Men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.”

A Christian teacher is responsible to be a good steward of the truths God reveals, and to teach these truths in a reliable manner to those who will be taught.

The Christian teacher must be faithful to the students of the Word.

In a larger context, a trustee is one who has received a trust.

In the secular world we generally see this through building a public image, raising funds, authorizing use of funds, and mediating personnel disputes.

The parable of the 10 minas (Roman pounds) also teaches our responsibility to provide proper care and use of the property or business of another.

In Luke 19:11–17 we see that each of the 10 servants received one mina, suggesting we all have some capacity to be productive.

¹¹ Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. ¹² Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

¹⁵ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ ¹⁷ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

But only “one pound”? This may seem a small amount. No one is entitled to say, “I have so little.” God knows how valuable each life is.

The appropriate emphasis is on the need for a proper accounting of that which has been entrusted to us—dependability!

One author suggests 10 basic principles for effective leadership. Dependability is viewed as one of these essentials.

This can be demonstrated by answering correspondence within a reasonable time, keeping appointments, avoiding excuses because of our weaknesses, and loyalty to the group or organization that we are associated with.

Let’s be faithful with that in which God has in trusted to us.

Greater things are still to come!