The Steward

“So the LORD God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.” GENESIS 2:15 AMP

As believers our commitment to God is integral to our relationship with him, and it comes from our trust in His word and his covenant with us. As Paul stated. “For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-- assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;” Ephesian 3:1,2 AMP. He was committed to what the Holy Spirit entrusted to Him in preaching the good news.

Our commitment to God is also expressed in our worship and love to Him which leads to obedience to His instructions and commands. “In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]” Colossians 1:25 AMP. We demonstrate our faithfulness to the Lord when we devote ourselves to serve Him in response to His faithfulness. Some steps we can take to be more committed to the things of God:

1. Have a heart for the work of God

'So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work. ' Nehemiah 4:6 AMP

And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.” I Chronicles 29:19 NKJV

'Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”' Psalms 40:7-8

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV

2. Be Willing to do God’s assignment

The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord , all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord , by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done. Exodus 35:29 NKJV

“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 KJV

3. Pray and Receive the Resources He provides

“And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.” Nehemiah 2:8 KJV

'this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. 'Ezra 7:6

4. Prepare for the oppositions

““But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.” Nehemiah 4:7,8 KJV

'For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.' Psalms 83:2-3

'For I heard many mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.” But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.' Jeremiah 20:10-11

5. Remember You will be rewarded

“Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.”

Nehemiah 5:19 KJV

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58 NKJV