22 September 2013 - accountable

22 September 2013 - accountable

Prepare a full account of your stewardship,

The LORD gives us many blessings but if we are honest we realize that we sometimes squander them.  We certainly don't always use them to build the kingdom in the ways to which the LORD calls.

The wealth of his blessings knows no limit.  We must therefore be even less hesitant to give them away than the dishonest steward is with his master's wealth.  He ultimately realizes that relationship can get him further than money.  He helps his master's debtors to freedom.  Ultimately, he is able to do this by forgoing his own self-interest and abandoning profit he could have otherwise made.

The LORD wants to welcome all of us into eternal dwellings.  He knows our dishonest wealth fails eventually.  He wants us to learn from it that what really matters is relationship.  Whether earthly wealth or heavenly blessing, we can't be selfish with it.  If wealth turns us inward and we come to rely on it we will eventually be called to account for our stewardship and we will have nothing to say for ourselves and no one to speak for us.  We will hear him say, "Never will I forget a thing they have done!"

Instead, let us use the wealth of blessings from the LORD to build the kingdom on earth.

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity. 

The LORD gives blessings so that they may be shared. If he gives wealth to some it is so that they may use it for all.

He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.

He does so because of the immense love he has for everyone.  He will not abandon one of his own.  He will seek every lost sheep.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.