Time. It's a funny thing, and something that has been weighing on my heart the last few days. I felt God speaking to me about it, but honestly, I think I was trying not to hear. The past few weeks I have been sick, from getting the stomach flu, to coming down with a cold that may have possibly turned into bronchitis by now. It has not been fun. When I am sick, I tend to not want to do anything if I can help it. I like to be able to sit and just veg. I like to watch tv because I don't like to have to think. I usually love to read, but reading involves thinking. Television is so easy. You can just flick it on, channel surf, and then watch…. there's nothing else to it. Television allows my mind to wander, to "take a break", and just be entertained.
Facebook allows another break to the brain. I can get online, see what all my friends are up to, maybe make a few comments. It's easy. It's a great way to stay connected with friends and family all over the world. It really is a cool concept. However, when one spends a lot of time on Facebook, it can become a problem. So much time can be wasted. And God has been making me more aware of just how much time I have been wasting.
God has been asking me, "What are you doing with the time I have given you?"
"Umm, well… ya know… just relaxing, trying to get better….." These are my best excuses. I hang my head in shame. Before I continue, let me point out that when one is sick, there is a time of healing. There is a time when you need to just stay at home and rest, to allow your body to recover.I am in no way saying that is not important, just that God was speaking to my specific situation and that I was using it as an excuse to not do things He was wanting me to do.
In a very gentle, non-condemning voice God spoke again. "You are my steward. Are you really taking care of all I have given you to be a steward over?"
Steward. The word struck my spirit. Over the past few days, the term steward has been echoing in my mind. What does it mean to be a steward. I have been studying it. It's use in the Bible, but in order to fully understand it, I decided to look up the definition.
Steward: (Noun)
1.a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.
2.a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.
3.an employee who has charge of the table, wine, servants, etc., in a club, restaurant, or the like.
4.a person who attends to the domestic concerns of persons on board a vessel, as in overseeing maids and waiters.
5.an employee on a ship, train, or bus who waits on and is responsible for the comfort of passengers, takes orders for or distributes food, etc.
(definition courtesy of dictionary.com)
A steward is basically a manager of sorts. So if a steward is a manager, and I am a steward for the Lord, then I am a manager over what He has given me, yes? That's what I have understood it to be. I found some Bible passages about stewardship.
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and (A)stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
As a steward, I need to be faithful with all that God has given me to be steward over. This caused me to question myself. Am I being a good steward with my money? Am I being a good steward with my friendships? With my time? I began to see what the Lord was trying to show me.
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? Luke 16:10-12
Wow. God has given me so much to steward. And I have not been a very good steward, honestly. And He is calling me to greater things than my normal life. He is changing me, taking me to places I never thought I would go. The World Race is such a wonderful opportunity. But if I am not being faithful over what I have right now, how can I expect God to entrust me with even more? The places I will be going and the people I will be meeting? If I am not being a good steward over my own time, and my own faith, how can I be entrusted to help lead others to Christ?
I'm going to back up to where I was talking about television and Facebook. I have allowed these distractions to interrupt my quiet time with the Lord. When I should have been spending my time in the Word, praying, and just being still, I have been watching television or Facebook stalking. Not being a good steward. I am reminded of a camp that I worked at for two summers after I became a Christian. One of the mottos for one summer was "Unplug and reconnect". As counselors, we each received a rubber bracelet with this motto on it and I wore it all summer. The point was to get the kids away from technology. They weren't allow to have computers, watch television or even have their cell phones. They were to "unplug" from technology and "reconnect" with God.
So this is what I am going to do. I am unplugging from technology and reconnecting with my Father. I'm not sure for how long this will go, but I know that right now this is what I must do. Please pray for me. I will post once a week on here, just to let you know how things are going and give financial updates. Thank you dear friends! I leave you with this challenge: to reflect on your past week and see if you are being a good steward over all God has given you. You may be surprised, or think that you don't have a lot to be steward over. But once you really review it, you shall see that you have much indeed.
In Love,
Kayla
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