Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 27
All these were stewards of King David's property. (1 Chronicles 27.31)
Devotional Thought: This chapter is a rather tedious read where the chronicler identifies key personnel that served essential roles in the various tribes, in Israel’s army, and in David’s administration. Their names mean very little to us, as we know nothing about their lives or what they did to rise to their positions of responsibility.
However, there’s an interesting note in v. 31 after it lists an assortment of individuals who were responsible for various aspects of King David’s vast holdings. It says, “All these were stewards of King David’s property” (ESV). What does it mean to be a “steward”? The dictionary will tell you he/she is someone who manages the property or administers affairs as the agent of another. He/she carries out directives according to the wishes and desires of someone else.
I recently performed the funeral of a lady who lived to be 101 years old. Predeceased by her husband, they had no children or direct heirs, so her niece is the steward of her estate. She is not claiming it as her own but is overseeing the distribution of their property and remaining assets according to the wishes of her deceased aunt and uncle.
Like the various people listed in vv. 25-31, we’ve been given responsibility to manage a variety of resources by a king who has a specific mission He wants to accomplish. Those resources include our finances … our talents and abilities … our relationships … our influence … our health … our time … our mind … and our choices. Are we stewarding all these things in a way that aligns with God’s wishes and desires? Or are we being irresponsible, claiming all these as ours to do with as we wish and handling things in a foolhardy or ill-considered fashion?
John Whitsett
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for entrusting me with life and with influence and with opportunities to serve in your kingdom. Help me, as the Apostle Paul prayed, to be found faithful as a steward in God's house.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 47:1-9
1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Comments