Are You Faithfully Stewarding God’s Gifts?

April 27, 2023

Are You Faithfully Stewarding God's Gifts?

Are You Faithfully Stewarding God’s Gifts?

By Brooke Holt

“What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” Psalm 116:12-14

Oh, how I love gifts! I love to give them and to receive them. They are high on my list of love languages. On the other hand, for my husband, gifts rank as the very lowest of his love languages. We have had a huge learning curve in expressing love to one another. Thankfully, God is the God of all love languages; each is his idea, and he is a great gift giver! As the great gift giver, he longs for his children to receive and enjoy each of his gifts.

In the Offertory portion of the Episcopal church service, we say these words: “All things come of thee, Oh Lord. And of thine own have we given thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14 ASV). This scripture-based prayer reminds you and me that the Lord is the giver of all gifts; all that you and I have and are comes from him. Therefore, we have no place for pride in our earthly gifts – not in our intellect, abilities, influence, money, or fame. Every gift comes from the Lord. His intention for those gifts is that you and I would use them to build the kingdom of God and to glorify him.

How do you repay the Lord for all the good things he has given you? You can’t. Instead, you are called to humbly receive the gifts, to recognize the giver, and to steward those gifts faithfully. Are you a gifted musician? Then make music unto the Lord. The same holds true for your athletic ability or your keen intellect. As Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Lord delights in his design of you! He delights in your gifts, abilities, and personality. In his special design of you, he is seen and known.

The gifts entrusted to you by your heavenly Father are to reflect his glory. You do this by always pointing back to the giver of the gifts, thanking him for the gifts, and sharing those gifts in your church, community, and especially in the building of God’s kingdom. You were made to reflect his glory!

Reflection:

How do you view your gifts? Are they a source of pride in your life or a means of building the kingdom of God and glorifying him? Are you praising him, obeying him, and seeking to fulfill his kingdom purposes for you? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resources:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.