As we seek to become fully devoted followers of Christ, one of the great prayers to pray is “Lord, help me be a faithful steward.” Matthew chapter 25 contains the “Parable of the Talents,” a very popular parable where Jesus talks about faithfulness and fruitfulness. The servants who invested the gifts and resources given them by the master were called faithful. But the one servant who buried the gifts and resources given him was called wicked and lazy. It goes without saying that each of us wants to hear the Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It behooves us not to bury our time, talents, and treasures by hoarding them, but rather to invest them by serving and blessing others.
I often have people ask me in one way or another, “Can I trust God?” The better question, I believe, is “Can God trust me?” Of course we can trust the Lord. The Bible is full of people who have experienced the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. The problem is, however, that the Bible is also full of people who were unfaithful and untrustworthy. Their disobedience disqualified them from being called a “faithful steward.”
I have found it helpful to regularly filter my life through what I call the “5 T’s of Stewardship.” In so doing, I am able to evaluate my level of faithfulness in 5 key areas of life:
- Time
- Talent
- Treasure
- Testimony
- Temple
The stewardship of time and talent is crucial. Am I using what God has given me to serve Him and others? My stewardship of treasure is also key. What does it look like to be faithful with my finances? Am I living a generous life? Do I share my testimony by living my life in a real and loving way so others can see Christ in me? And am I a good steward of God’s Temple, my body, by exercising and eating right and getting rest so that I have the energy to care for and bless others?
At the end of our lives, every one of us wants to hear those words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Assessing our lives on a regular basis using these 5 T-words can be a helpful way to zero in on what’s most important in life.