Being Good Stewards of What We’ve Been Entrusted

Sep 29

What are you responsible for, and what are you not? Do you know? What are you doing with what I’ve given you? And are you carrying things I did not ask you to pick up?

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Find a place of quiet where you can get comfortable. Place both feet on the floor, aware of the earth beneath your soles. Open your hands, palms face up in your empty lap, and close your eyes as you take a series of deep, slow breaths.

As you breathe in from your diaphragm, invite Holy Spirit into this space. As you breathe out, surrender to God every concern you carry today.

Holy Spirit, you are welcome here……
Lord, I give You……

Stay here, with this deep breathing, as long as you need to. Then pray Philippians 4:7 over your heart:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [my] heart and [my] mind in Christ Jesus.”

Continue praying this verse for a few moments. How do you need the Lord to guard your heart right now? How do you need Him to fill your mind?

Lord, guard my heart. I need you…..
Lord, fill my mind……

Relax while also listening attentively with your heart as you engage with God.

Now, let’s transition to a time of asking God what it is we feel responsible for in our lives. We might be carrying things we are not meant to carry—or not carrying things He has entrusted us with.

Contemplate the following parable from Jesus from Matthew 25:14-30 a few times.

First, read it to yourself silently, picturing the scene like it is a movie playing out before you. Notice the setting–the color of the sky, the sound of the servants coming and going, the tone of the property owner’s voice, and his appearance and posture.
Then read it again, lingering over moments in the scene that prompt in you an emotional reaction. Which servant do you understand most?
Finally, read it a third time, allowing yourself to stay in the scene and inviting Holy Spirit to talk with you about what it is He wants you to notice.

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 25:14-30, ESV).

Next, guided by Holy Spirit, list in your journal the things you feel God has entrusted to you. The following questions can guide your conversation:

What/who, Lord, have you given me to care for?

What am I doing with what you have given me, and what fears might I have about this responsibility?

What servant am I most like in this parable, Jesus?

Spend time sitting with Jesus as He guides you into deeper understanding of your heart and what He wants to show you in the lesson of this parable.

Continue to pray, surrendering your fears to Him and allowing Him to show you a bit more of how dearly you are loved.

Conclude this time in worship.

Amen.