The apostle Peter wrote, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). Whatever abilities and material possessions we have are gifts from God. We are stewards of these gifts. A "steward" is the manager ... of household affairs ... to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age (Strong’s definition from SeedMaster computer Bible program).

The Lord is the owner of the household. Our ability, time and material possessions belong to Him. We are to manage them in His service. The service He expects us to render with them is to "minister it to one another." To minister is to serve (Strong). Thus our duty as stewards of the Lord is to use our ability, time and possessions in the service of others.

There is one primary requirement for stewards. "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). If we are to please the Lord in our stewardship, we must be faithful. One who is faithful is "to be trusted, reliable" (W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. 2:72), i.e., dependable, trustworthy. When an employer hires an employee, he wants one he can depend on to do the job he is hired to do. He doesn’t want an employee who may or may not show up for work, who may or may not get there on time, who may goof off rather than work when no one is watching, who may do a slipshod job rather than being careful. In short he wants an employee he can depend on to show up for work on time regularly and to diligently, accurately do the job he is hired to do, even when the boss is gone. The Lord expects no less.

The Lord expects His stewards to assemble to worship in order to serve each other by mutual encouragement and edification (Hebrews 10:24-25). If you allow things to hinder you from attending the worship assemblies that would not keep you from work, or if you show up late, or if you don’t participate with your whole heart in the worship, are you a faithful steward?

Some want to take an active leadership role in the worship and teaching of the church who can’t even be counted on to assemble with the Christians to worship. The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). How can we teach others to serve the Lord if we are not faithful ourselves?

The Lord expects us to study His word in order to learn His will (1 Peter 2:1-3). If we can’t be counted on to attend the Bible classes, or if we come in late, or if we don’t study our lessons outside class, are we being faithful?

The Master requires that we try to lead our lost friends and neighbors to Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Are we faithfully seeking to save the lost?

He requires that we live before our friends and neighbors in such that they see Christ living in us (Matthew 5:16). Are our private lives a faithful reflection of the life of Jesus?

Our salvation depends on our faithfulness. "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). The one who faithfully serves with the time, possessions and abilities His Lord has entrusted to him will enter into the joy of the Lord. The one who fails to faithfully serve the Master will be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 25:14-30).

Dear brother and sister, are you faithful to the Lord?