Lent, Day 16: Stewardship

More revival insight from Ps. Jeremiah Bolich...

In Revelation 3:7 Jesus introduces Himself as the one "who is holy and true, who holds the key of David" (NIV). What does it mean that Jesus holds this key? It is only mentioned one other time - in prophesy in Isaiah 22:22 where God is promising to remove a fame hungry steward from his role in the palace and give the "key to the house of David" to Eliakim instead. You see, Eliakim would not use his power and authority to get only himself into the Kingdom, but to get all of Israel into the Kingdom. He would see the nation as a father sees his children - he looses himself in service to them!

Stewardship is not all about money as is so often thought. It's more about Jesus asking, "Did you give to all I would give to?" Everything you have is your area of stewardship. And a good steward sees the talents and abilities they've been blessed with and embraces them and accepts that Jesus will make them a pillar of ministry where He has placed them. They respond to His guidance, "I accept responsbiblity for the place you've put me."

We also briefly discussed the book of James, specific verse 1:1 where James introduces himself as a servant. Throughout the rest of the book he refers to us and our relationship with God and each other in a family language, so why refer to himself as a servant? Paul explains that you recognize a child of God because they are servants (Philippians 2:5)! You don't serve to better yourself, but that your master might be bettered. And servant can be translated as slave, which is the lowest position in the house - this implies I'll do whatever it takes, because I want to be in your house!