Stewardship in the Face of the World’s Reality

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 Brian E. Payne

By Brother Brian E. Payne

Giving back in any meaningful way is well worth the time considering the majority of us are not offering up our spare time to help those in need: (Galatians 2:10).

It is such a blessing that most of us are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices made by another person or organization.

However, the following question still lingers in the spirit-mind of those who are desperately waiting on the world to change: ‘Where is our God lurking? He has to be in the midst of these good works that are done. Or, is he?

I doubt individuals who are ‘caught up in the moment’ of contributing their precious time are theologically thinking about God’s perceived absence while they are helping disaster victims. But I am certain the reason they are working and not sitting is because they were called by a greater force than themselves. Just by answering the call they have become stewards. They are adhering to a spiritual command to help thy brother as they would help thy self. (Matthew 7: 12). 

America is good at responding to the needy when a tragic
event changes the social climate; we step-up without inhibition when it
is time to get the job done. We can count on some level of charity — a
charity that is rooted in unselfish stewardship.


Another reality — our lives are encumbered daily with local and
national community disparities that we continue to say are not ours! We
tend to “pick and choose,” and yes, we faithfully follow-up with “It’s
the Lords” after hearing and reciting “The Battle is not yours!”
Inconsequently, if it is the Lord’s battle, why is there still a need
for volunteers and stewards? If God is truly in control of the fight
there is no need for us to help one another.


Maybe God’s job IS done! And, maybe he WAS really finished on the
seventh day! (Genesis 2: 2). Even if we choose to believe this, maybe
we should be mindful of our prayers by asking Gods’ continued blessings
and intercession in our lives daily.


These are a few dynamics the good steward should be thinking about when
they are mirroring the works of stewardship.

Stewardship is all about
work in the community and the world, while waiting on the ‘fruits of
change.’ The steward should be the person sitting next to you in the
pews. He is also that man who refuses to go to church, or that woman
who fails to lead by a Christly example. This has been all of us. We
are not always the “saints” we claim to be in the presence of
non-believers. We definitely have not been God’s faithful and committed
stewards if this commentary suddenly motivates, or un-motivates you to
GIVE BACK!


What we are, are people that need to recognize there is an ongoing
struggle between good and bad, thus the reason stewards are needed on
the battlefield in our communities. The talk of true stewardship should
not send us running and hiding, it wakes us up from complacency!


I challenge each of you reading this to find a way to consistently and
actively give back to the world and your community, to mentor our youth
and help our elders. And, just maybe we will positively alter the
world’s reality that we have created as a result of our inaction and
lack of stewardship. – Praise Him! 

 


Brian E. Payne’s most recent book, “Exposing Christianity – My Way of Sharing an Alternative to the Church’s Truth”, records his theological pontifications. His book can be purchased at amazon.com.

 

Brian was born and raised in Thomasville, North Carolina. He attended High Point University and graduated with a BS in Physical Education. He later joined the Peace Corps, and while serving in Antigua he was tasked with developing a health and physical education curriculum. In 2005, Payne completed a MDIV from Howard University School of Divinity.

While at Howard, he became completely engrossed with the theological aspects of divinity school and not the Sunday school portion of seminary training. This is where his initial beliefs concerning religion were reinforced. His post-divinity school thoughts and opinions are collections of his life’s religious commentary after being an everyday Christian.

Visit Brian online at www.muatatruthtelling.blogspot.com or email him at [email protected]