D36 / Stewards of Grace: Faithful in What God Entrusts

Day - 36 Stewards of Grace: Faithful in What God Entrusts

A Season of Accountability Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. It is a time when we examine not only our sins, but also our responsibilities. In the Gospel of Matthew 25:14–30, Jesus Christ tells the Parable of the Talents, teaching us one powerful truth: Everything we have is entrusted to us by God,  and we are accountable for how we use it.

Let us ask, what God has given me? How am I using it? Am I faithful to what God entrusted?. This is the heart of Stewardship. 

Understanding the Parable. In the story, A master goes on a journey. He entrusts his servants with talents (money/resources). One receives five. One receives two. One receives one. The first two servants invest and multiply. The third servant hides his talent. When the master returns, the first two are rewarded, and the third is rebuked. The message is clear: God expects faithful stewardship, not passive preservation.

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship means managing what belongs to God in a way that honours Him. Because our time belongs to God, our gifts belong to God, our resources belong to God, our lives belong to God. Psalm 24:1 reminds us, "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." We are not owners, we are stewards.

Three Stewardship Lessons for Lent

1. God Gives Differently But Expects Faithfulness

The master gave five talents, two talents, and one talent. Not equally but intentionally. God gives differently. Some have leadership gifts, some have compassion, some have resources, some have influence, and some have skills. God does not compare, but God evaluates faithfulness.

The servant with two talents received the same praise as the one with five. "Well done, good and faithful servant." God is not asking, " Why weren't you like someone else? God is asking, were you faithful with what I gave you? Lent calls us to stop comparing and start serving.

2. Fear Leads to Wasted Stewardship

The third servant said, "I was afraid, so I hid your talent." Fear leads to inaction, excuses, and missed opportunities. How often do we say, I'm not talented enough, I'm too old, I'm too young, someone else will do it, and I don't have enough.

Fear makes us bury what God gave us. But Lent calls us to step forward, to serve boldly, and to trust God. Faithful stewardship requires courage.

3. Faithful Stewardship Leads to Greater Blessing

The master said, "You have been faithful with little, I will put you in charge of much." God blesses faithfulness, not greatness. When we steward small opportunities, small acts of kindness, small ministries, and small responsibilities, God multiplies them. God multiplies faithful hearts.

Four Stewardship Areas to Evaluate

1. Stewardship of Time: How do we use our time? Time is God's gift.

2. Stewardship of Gifts: What gifts has God given you? God gave gifts to be used, not buried.

3. Stewardship of Resources: Money, possessions, and influence are all entrusted by God. Are we generous? Compassionate? Helpful to those in need?

4. Stewardship of the Gospel: We are stewards of the message of hope. God calls us to share love, show compassion and live the Gospel

The faithful servants acted immediately. They did not delay. They did not hesitate.

Christ, the Perfect Steward. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of stewardship. He faithfully stewarded His mission, His ministry, His suffering and His sacrifice even to the cross. He did not bury His calling. He fulfilled it. And because He was faithful, we have salvation. Amen.

Final Takeaway

God has entrusted something valuable to each of us. Lent is the season to stop burying our gifts and start faithfully using them. God is not looking for greatness. He is looking for faithfulness. When we faithfully steward what God has given, He multiplies our impact and invites us into His joy. Don't hide your talent. Use it for God's glory.