Stewardship

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God.

I Chronicles 29:2

After reading the passage of I Chronicles 29:2-5, I recognized a new revelation regarding David's stewardship and his motive for giving such a vast amount of wealth for a project that he will never see as a finished product. The Bible defines stewardship as "Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation." (Holman Bible Dictionary) Such a definition can easily describe King David's character because he understood that his responsibilities rested on pleasing Yahweh (GOD). Toward the end of King David's life, his primary desire centered on building a temple for God. However, God's answer to David's passion was a resounding NO. Yet, David responded positively, which unfold a thorough executable plan that allowed his predecessor to fulfill his desires. How many of us leave positions with a desire to aid our predecessor? Usually, when we depart our job for various reasons, our attitude seems more about self. We suggest that the next person will bring new ideas, so why do I need to aid him. Consequently, King David did the opposite for his predecessor, proving that his stewardship was like no other.

When one thinks of stewardship, you often think about someone who manages another's affairs, including everyday business transactions, reconciling financial statements, accounting for expenditures, etc. Likewise, King David managed the affairs of His God. As a king, David was responsible for the nation's stewardship, which was a theocracy kingdom. Theocracy means rule by God. The government of Israel relied on religious principles to govern the people. So King David re-established the role of priests and Levities, and then, he realizes that there was no permanent structure for them to perform their primary duties for this theocracy to strive as a prosperous nation. From this need, David desired to build a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God's presence in Jerusalem, Israel's capital. God informed David, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. (I Chronicles 28:3) Upon receiving this rejection, David did not argue nor make excuses but set his desire for preparation instead of building. What an incredible lesson that we can exercise today. Denial must manifest something positive instead of negative. Notice how King David responded:

"Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance." I Chronicles 29:2

Such a response reflects his stewardship toward the obligation for the Kingdom. Yet, David took his stewardship personal and continued preparing the Temple by using his funds. David demonstrated the role of an ultimate leader by giving generously toward this preparation.

Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my special treasure of gold and silver: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen…" I Chronicles 29:3-5 NKJV

As stewards of God, there is no separation from my natural assignments and spiritual obligations. The two must work together for the Kingdom. Remember, the definition of stewardship is the one who utilizes and manages all resources that God provides. We cannot separate what we do in our everyday personal lives from what we believe in our hearts. For instance, your job is an extension of another resource that God furnishes for the productivity of His Kingdom. As believers, we must treat stewardship in our spiritual lives, just like our stewardship of our natural lives. For the Savior reminds his followers, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…" (Matthew 6:20). With the resources that we have access to, we must render the same allegiance to these resources, like our natural jobs, as we render as spiritual beings. From God's perspective, He sees each of us in a totality of existence. Yet, we see ourselves in a partial reality on earth and future presence in heaven.

When the Savior compared an example of the Kingdom of Heaven, He uses a parable in which a man of much wealth gave money in form talents to his servants for the sole purpose of monetary gain. Yet, one of the servants gained five more talents, and the other increased his talents by two. Although each gains an unequaled amount in his profit margin, the master rewarded each of them the same. Notice the repeated statement below.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21, 23

If you analyzed the two statements of the one with five talents and one with two talents, the master approved each of them by saying, "Well done," and he used the term "faithful over a few things." The few things, if you compared with the master's wealth, is minimal. Yet, the heavenly reward of becoming a ruler over many things holds a significant value because you will enter "into the joy of thy lord." Notice that the results of stewardship bring joy. The Savior's choice of words throughout His parable enables a sense of priority. The master gives you a few things to demonstrate stewardship. By demonstrating stewardship over a few things, each will practice the same stewardship over many things with the enjoyment of serving your LORD in heavenly places. Likewise, believers who practice stewardship despite the amount on earth will inherit the approval of practicing the same stewardship over many things in heaven.

Follow David’s example of Stewardship

Motivation yourself to give.

As believers, we must have the same motivation as King David with the preparation mindset to aid our predecessors in building the Kingdom. So what are you doing now to prepare the ones after you for Kingdom building?