Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Stewardship of Resources
Malachi 3:6-18
v18    “ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
“I do not care what you say anymore, this is my life.” – Billy Joel.  Even though Billy Joel sang that lyric in 1978, it still feels as much as a rallying call for the world as ever.
God, through prophet Malachi, diagnoses our obsession with one word, “MINE. “We attempt to claim ownership of this world when it is not ours to do so. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1). In the beginning God created everything and put man in the garden to work it and take care of it.   We are simply managers, administrators or stewards acting on His behalf. “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you ability to produce wealth.” (Deut 8.18) The people during the time of Malachi were living tight fisted and unable to let go and allow God to use what belongs to Him.  As God called then, He calls us now to meet him in fellowship by performing the actions of confession and repentance.
God has entrusted each one of us with certain resources, gifts, talents and abilities.  Our responsibility is to use all that God has given us to live accordingly to His design and desire. We have to be good stewards with our home, state, body, soul and spirit. One day each one of us will be called to give an account for how we have managed what the Master has given us. The parable of talents teaches us that. (Matt: 25:14-30). There is a reward for the stewardship though. A good steward will share the master’s happiness. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  (Matthew 25:23) In today’s reading Malachi stresses more about material resources, about giving and tithing.  Giving is worship.
Stewardship is about serving God’s mission as followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to seek, restore and redeem a broken world. We all have 24 hours each day at our disposal.  What differentiates between people is not the amount of time available but the manner in which they exercise their resources.   Let us be faithful with our resources, which God has given to each one of us in good faith, especially at these difficult and trying times.
PRAYER
Almighty God, thank you for the resources you have given to each one of us.  Help us to be faithful stewards till the end as coworkers in your mission.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The world is not in danger of running out of resources, but the world is in danger of running out of faithful stewards.

M.C.Varughese, Epiphany MTC, New York
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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