A steward is a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others. Each of us is called to be a good steward and Jesus spoke about stewardship in two separate parables: the parable of the talents and the parable of the minas. Though these parables are similar, they are not the same.
The parable of the talents:
Matthew 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”
This parable focuses on being a good steward of your gifts and calling. Each of us has a unique set of gifts and we are called to be productive in the area of these gifts. If we aren’t then judgment will come:
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Doing nothing is unacceptable as a steward. There is a time to wait on THE LORD but it does not span your entire life. You must ask the question “What am I drawn to?” and develop yourself in that area. You are not expected to flourish in someone else’s calling and neither should you attempt to do so. FATHER will see to it that you gain experience and maturity in the area of your calling but you will produce little or no fruit in attempting to walk in another’s calling. Be at peace with your own calling.
The parable of the minas has a different message and it is found in Luke 19:
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
In this parable there were ten servants rather than three and each of them were given the same amount to manage. In this case they all started with the exact same amount which represents the one resource we all have… time. In this case the issue is about being a good steward of time and those who waste away the day will suffer judgment as a poor steward. What happened to the poor steward who did not know the Divine Intent of his MASTER?
24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’)
26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
The unproductive servant will be judged and removed from the scene. The productive servants will be given rewards commensurate with their productiveness. Have you wondered why you don’t seem to get anywhere or receive anything new and refreshing? You may want to consider the stewardship issue whether it be in the area of your gifts and calling or time management. FATHER is clearly interested in both.