Two weeks ago we looked at the Parable of the Unjust (or Shrewd) Steward in Luke 16, with some resources that helped us understand the parable’s meaning and application for us believers today–including us believers with chronic illness.
Today we continue the discussion, looking at Kingdom stewardship in a broader way and with more application for our unique situation.
Kingdom Stewardship: Investing Our Talents
Jesus gives another parable about stewardship in Matthew 25. It’s long, but I include the entire parable here so we can look at it together:
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.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
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.’”
NJKV
*According to my study Bible, a talent was about six thousand denarii, a denarius being a typical day’s wages.
Between these two parables, a key principle is the same: we won’t be faithful with the spiritual gifts God gives us if we aren’t first faithful with the material gifts He gives us.
Let that sink in. (I’m rubbing my sore toes over here where the Holy Spirit stepped on them.)
Yet there are other reasons for being wise stewards of the earthly talents (finances) God has given us. Matthew Henry writes,
Money is like manure (so my Lord Bacon used to say), good for nothing in the heap, but it must be spread . . . and so it is in spiritual gifts; many have them, and make no use of them for the end for which they were given them. Those that have estates, and do not lay them out in works of piety and charity; that have power and interest, and do not with it promote religion in the places where they live; ministers that have capacities and opportunities of doing good, but do not stir up the gift that is in them, are those slothful servants that seek their own things more than Christ’s.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol V, p. 374
In other words, what means God has given us we are to share, invest, and use wisely for His glory and for others’ good.
I love how Matthew Henry sums its up in this quote:
The hand of the diligent makes rich in graces, and comforts, and treasures of good works.
Vol V, p. 373
This principle of generosity appears in other passages of Scripture:
There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
Proverbs 11:24-25
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.
There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
Proverbs 13:7
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Yet generosity applies to far more than money. Let’s talk about other ways God asks us to be good stewards in chronic illness.
Kingdom Stewardship: Using Our Spoons
In the chronic illness community, “spoons” have become a metaphor for the physical and mental capacity someone has. The more spoons you have, the more you can do; the fewer spoons you have, the less you can do.
If anyone understands limited resources–both physical and financial–we do. Our bodies just can’t do what others’ can.
We are not, however, exempt from God’s commands on stewardship.
Matthew Henry specifically addresses this idea of having less than someone else:
[1.] From those to whom God hath given five talents, he expects the improvement of five, and to reap plentifully where he sows plentifully. . . . [2.] From those to whom he has given but two talents, he expects only the improvement of two, which may encourage those who are placed in a lower and narrower sphere of usefulness; if they lay out themselves to do good according to the best of their capacity and opportunity, they shall be accepted, though they do not so much good as others.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol V, p. 374
I find this a word of comfort: if God has given me only five spoons a day (compared to someone else’s ten or fifteen spoons, for example), I’m not responsible for ten or fifteen spoons. I’m responsible for my five spoons.
Let’s look at one more passage from the commentary:
Christ would hint to us . . . That those who have least to do for God, frequently do least of what they have to do. Some make it an excuse for their laziness . . . and so sit down and do nothing; it is really an aggravation of their sloth, that when they have but one talent to take care about, they neglect that one.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Vol V, p. 374
Or in “spoon” language: if you only have one spoon, you do NOT throw away that spoon as worthless.
For a perfectionist like me, it’s hard to see the value of something if it isn’t what I think it should be. It can be so easy to look at one spoon when I want (or only feel useful with) five, and toss it away asking, “What’s the point?”
As God makes clear in this parable, however, even one talent, one spoon has a point. So if all God has given you is one spoon, you are expected to use it. Don’t ask, “What’s the point?” Take your one spoon and use it well, because you will give account for it before Christ someday.
But we’re not done yet–stewardship and generosity go beyond talents and spoons.
Kingdom Stewardship: Sharing Our Resources
Kingdom stewardship includes everything we have from God: our physical resources like house, car, phone, food, etc., and our intangible resources like time.
“Where does the Bible say that?” you may ask.
Let me point to Douglas Wilson’s book Ploductivity: A Practical Theology of Work and Wealth. This book is responsible in a large way for expanding my perspective of Kingdom stewardship, a perspective concisely illustrated in this paragraph from the first chapter as he talks about technology:
Now, what we call technology is simply an array of tools laid out on the bench for us. Technology is therefore a form of wealth. The reason this is important is because the Bible says very little about technology as such, but it gives us a great deal of blunt and pointed teaching on the subject of wealth. If we learn how to deal with wealth scripturally, then we will have learned how to deal with technology.
p. 11
As Wilson goes on to write in the next several chapters, we will have also learned how to deal with work, tools, media, markets, progress, and other ideas tangible and intangible, with the goal of being not just more efficient but ultimately more fruitful in God’s kingdom for His glory.
Let’s talk about these resources God has given us that we need to steward wisely and fruitfully:
- money — even if you’re not earning an income, when money comes your way, what do you do with it?
- time — how are you spending your time? Are you stingy or generous? Are you investing in worthwhile activities or worthless pursuits?
- food — how can you use food to bless others, whether a simple snack on the job or a meal at your house?
- pets — how can your pets bring happiness or comfort to others? (When I had rabbits, I used to love sharing their snuggles and antics with others, especially kids, who came over.)
- place — whether your own room or your own house, do you welcome people into your space? Do you offer what area you have as an opportunity for rest and fellowship?
- car — if you’re able to drive, do you use your car to help other people?
- garden — if you have a garden, do you share its produce? (During her years of gardening, my mom has “tithed” her firstfruits every year to a friend or someone in need.)
- books — are you hoarding (I mean saving) books for yourself or for others? Do you read to increase your knowledge and wisdom so you can hone your skills and help others? Do you share your books?
- skills — how are you using the skills God has given you? (music, building, crafting, cooking, writing, decorating, designing, repairing, etc.)
- spiritual gifts — do you know your spiritual gifts? How are you using your God-given, grace-enabled gifts to edify other believers in your church and God’s Kingdom?
- What else can you add? This is not an exhaustive list, and I hope it encourages you to think!
As you can see, our theology of Kingdom stewardship affects everything. Some of these examples may seem silly or inconsequential, but the reality is, anything can be a ministry. And everything should be used for God, for others, and for spiritual endeavors in the Kingdom.
In summary, even with chronic illness, we are not exempt from the stewardship mandate, and nothing we have is out of reach of Kingdom stewardship. Everything God has given us should be not an end, but a means to serve others and glorify God.
Are you investing in God’s Kingdom? Are you Kingdom-savvy along with business-savvy? How are you using what you have–talents, spoons, things, etc.–to worship God and bless others?
The Valley 