I Shall Return by Jennifer Tiszai

And the Lord replied, "I'm talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. Luke 12:42-44 (NLT)

During World War II, General Douglas MacArthur went to the Philippines and, leaving, sent word back to them. “I shall return.” Two years after he made that promise, he waded into the water on the shores of the Philippines and said, “People of the Philippines, I have returned.” MacArthur made a promise and he kept it. He made a promise so the people of the Philippines wouldn’t think he was abandoning them to the Japanese troops. He wanted them to have hope.

In the same way Jesus told His disciples that He would return. He wants us to keep our hope in Him and to be prepared. He expects us to be good stewards or caretakers of the time, talents, and resources He’s entrusted to us. When He returns, we will give Him an accounting of what we did with what He gave us. Because He created us, Jesus knows about human nature, that we do what is “inspected” not what’s “expected.”

A steward is often defined as a caretaker, one who manages things that belong to someone else. That is a good biblical, as well as practical, definition. Stewardship is taking and managing what God has given me for His glory. I will begin to manage the resources God has given me when I understand Who owns them: my life, my family, my home, my job, all my possessions.

A primary characteristic of a servant is he is under authority. Philippians 2:8 says of Christ, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Our Master, Jesus Christ, was under authority and so should we be. He took the towel, the symbol of servanthood, and washed the disciple’s feet.

What area of your life do you need to recognize God’s ownership in? What needs to be surrendered to His authority? Become a faithful steward today and be ready for when the Master returns. It will have an eternal impact.