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DANIEL 12:1-3 

HEBREWS 10:19-25 

MARK 13:1-8 

Faithful Stewards is the theme for our reflection. To be faithful means to remain loyal and steadfast. A steward is a person who is a caretaker or a person tasked with the role of a manager. The theme can thus be rephrased as remaining loyal as one appointed by God to be the manager of His resources. What then are the resources God has made us stewards over. God has made us stewards over our entire lives, including but not limited to our bodies, time, wealth, privileged positions of power but indeed over the entire environment, we find ourselves in. (Genesis 1:27-30). Faithful stewards must have certain qualities that make them worthy of the praise-worthy accolade of faithful stewards.  Our reflection shall focus on the following qualities of a faithful steward: 

1. Faithful stewards are Christians who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Saviour and as such do not give up. 

2. Faithful Stewards are watchful   

3. Faithful steward is wise and always keep their eyes on the reward of the Master. 

First, the foremost quality of faithful stewards is that they must acknowledge their Master who has entrusted the role of stewardship into their hands and therefore persevere in faith. For Christians to prove that we are indeed faithful stewards, we must acknowledge Jesus as our Lord in whom our salvation is complete and to whom we are accountable as stewards. Hebrew 12:1-3 makes this point clear that “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2). My dear friend, a faithful steward must learn to embrace the challenges of a believer and persevere in faith in Jesus Christ. Faithfulness means that regardless of the temptations and entrapments that may tempt you to be disloyal to your master, you remain loyal, steadfast and focused on the task assigned to you as a steward. Have you been a faithful steward at work, in your marriage, as a parent, a church member and a public office holder and for that matter one entrusted with the responsibility of serving others in order to bring about progress and transformation? Christians must stand out as faithful stewards of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ in every sphere of life regardless of the challenges and oppositions that we may face.  

Second, faithful stewards must not be gullible but must be watchful and guard against the happenings of their era which may have adverse effects on their stewardship over the resources God has given them. Jesus has already forewarned us that, to prove that we are His faithful disciples and for that matter stewards of all that He has entrusted into our care, He cautions us to  “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.  When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:5-8). That is why as faithful stewards we must adhere to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.  When we discharge our duties as faithful stewards of the Gospel, we shall save multitudes from charlatans and the anti-christ who mount media platforms in the name of Jesus the Christ.  The signs Jesus talked about are already happening, it is our duty as faithful stewards to be courageous, be watchful and jealously guard our salvation in the Lord. The day the Master will come is unknown to us but the signs that indicate the advent of the Master has been made known to us. Faithful Stewards have no excuse, the Master must come to find us being watchful and on guard, therefore we must be vigilant wherever we find ourselves and not allow the deception of the antichrist to lead us into temptation and disobedience. One of the ways to be watchful is to continually pray and read the Word of God for Joshua admonishes us that “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9) 

Thirdly, Faithful stewards must be wise. A wise and faithful steward shall be rewarded by the Lord, Jesus Christ. Proverbs 9:10  tells us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”.  The Lord rewards faithful stewards who revere Him and fear Him as the Holy One who they must always obey and have His will done in their lives. It is for this reason that the Lord revealed to Daniel that “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book —will be delivered.  Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3). My dear friend, are you a wise and faithful steward? Will the Lord say of you “‘Well done, good and faithful servant(steward)! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’?” (Matthew 25:23) or because of you have failed to fear the Lord and be a wise and faithful steward, He will say of you “throw that worthless servant(steward) outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:30. My dear friend, the choice is yours to make? May the Lord grant you wisdom to be a faithful Steward.  

In conclusion, Faithful stewards are Christians who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Saviour and as such do not give up when faced with challenges and temptations. Faithful Stewards are watchful and last but not the least,  a faithful steward is wise and always keep their eyes on the reward of the Master. 

Jean-Paul Agidi.