Stewardship
Posted by
Pastor Coon
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From My Notebook
Genesis 24:10 "And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor."
One of the last jobs in the world I would want is a wedding coordinator. They are the first person to receive the blame if something goes wrong, but they are the last person you think of when the wedding goes without a hitch! In Genesis 24, we not only find a wedding coordinator, but actually a wedding planner. Abraham sends his servant to find a bride for Isaac. His instructions were to go, find a bride, and bring her back. Isaac, the groom, was not to go; the servant was to come with the bride-to-be. So Abraham's servant leaves with Abraham's instructions and goods.
Now, what type of servant is this man? He is a steward. A steward is not just someone with a job; he is a servant that has been entrusted with the master's possessions. In this story, Abraham entrusted the very life of his son, Isaac, to the servant. A steward must be worthy of his master's trust. Are you that kind of servant of the Lord? Do you see yourself as just a servant, or do you see yourself as a steward that God has entrusted with His goods?
We can learn three keys to our stewardship to God from this servant. First, we can learn supplication. That is, asking God for things on behalf of someone else. A 500-mile trip one-way by camel is not very glamorous. However, Abraham's servant took this job of finding a wife for Isaac personally, and he let God in on it. This bride was not for himself; it was for his master's son. In verse 12, the servant says, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee. . . ." And in verse 14, he says again, "I pray thee. . . ." The word "pray" here means he simply asked. He asked God to do something greater than he could do.
Prayer really is a matter of letting God in on what you are doing. Often I have said, "What is it you want so badly that you cannot let God in on it?" Do you think it is better to worry-that somehow this impresses God? If you think you can have it, ask for it. And if you ask for it, keep asking. Don't forget, this was not something the servant needed, but something someone else needed!
Secondly, we can learn speed. In verse 17, the Bible says the servant "ran to meet her." This is a reoccurring theme during this story. In verse 33, he says "I will not eat until. . . .", and he got to the point in verse 49 when he says, "And now if you will. . . ." His reason for being there was completely about his master. He had purpose. There will be no speed in your work without purpose in your day. This servant was a driven man. He had a master, and he "bought into" his plan because he was a steward.
Thirdly, we can learn submission. Verse 34 says, "And he said, I am Abraham's servant." That was his identity. Just look at verse 36: "And unto him [Isaac] hath he given all that he hath." All that Abraham had was going to Isaac. This servant had nothing coming. Yet he showed selflessness and submission. God owns everything, and he has given it to us as stewards. No matter what your job description is, your job is to be a steward. You cannot do any better than that; and you cannot do any worse by not doing that.
The ending to this story is very picturesque. Imagine in your mind a Palestinian plain, just as the sun is setting. Just over the red-orange horizon, Isaac sees the camels coming, and his heart is filled with excitement. All you have to know about this servant is in verse 65. We do not know his name, but his life is summed up by his answer to Rebekah: "It is my master." Apparently so!
I would never want to be this servant-how would you like to pick out a wife for your boss' son? But we can learn supplication, speed, and submission for our stewardship to the Heavenly Father.
One of the last jobs in the world I would want is a wedding coordinator. They are the first person to receive the blame if something goes wrong, but they are the last person you think of when the wedding goes without a hitch! In Genesis 24, we not only find a wedding coordinator, but actually a wedding planner. Abraham sends his servant to find a bride for Isaac. His instructions were to go, find a bride, and bring her back. Isaac, the groom, was not to go; the servant was to come with the bride-to-be. So Abraham's servant leaves with Abraham's instructions and goods.
Now, what type of servant is this man? He is a steward. A steward is not just someone with a job; he is a servant that has been entrusted with the master's possessions. In this story, Abraham entrusted the very life of his son, Isaac, to the servant. A steward must be worthy of his master's trust. Are you that kind of servant of the Lord? Do you see yourself as just a servant, or do you see yourself as a steward that God has entrusted with His goods?
We can learn three keys to our stewardship to God from this servant. First, we can learn supplication. That is, asking God for things on behalf of someone else. A 500-mile trip one-way by camel is not very glamorous. However, Abraham's servant took this job of finding a wife for Isaac personally, and he let God in on it. This bride was not for himself; it was for his master's son. In verse 12, the servant says, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee. . . ." And in verse 14, he says again, "I pray thee. . . ." The word "pray" here means he simply asked. He asked God to do something greater than he could do.
Prayer really is a matter of letting God in on what you are doing. Often I have said, "What is it you want so badly that you cannot let God in on it?" Do you think it is better to worry-that somehow this impresses God? If you think you can have it, ask for it. And if you ask for it, keep asking. Don't forget, this was not something the servant needed, but something someone else needed!
Secondly, we can learn speed. In verse 17, the Bible says the servant "ran to meet her." This is a reoccurring theme during this story. In verse 33, he says "I will not eat until. . . .", and he got to the point in verse 49 when he says, "And now if you will. . . ." His reason for being there was completely about his master. He had purpose. There will be no speed in your work without purpose in your day. This servant was a driven man. He had a master, and he "bought into" his plan because he was a steward.
Thirdly, we can learn submission. Verse 34 says, "And he said, I am Abraham's servant." That was his identity. Just look at verse 36: "And unto him [Isaac] hath he given all that he hath." All that Abraham had was going to Isaac. This servant had nothing coming. Yet he showed selflessness and submission. God owns everything, and he has given it to us as stewards. No matter what your job description is, your job is to be a steward. You cannot do any better than that; and you cannot do any worse by not doing that.
The ending to this story is very picturesque. Imagine in your mind a Palestinian plain, just as the sun is setting. Just over the red-orange horizon, Isaac sees the camels coming, and his heart is filled with excitement. All you have to know about this servant is in verse 65. We do not know his name, but his life is summed up by his answer to Rebekah: "It is my master." Apparently so!
I would never want to be this servant-how would you like to pick out a wife for your boss' son? But we can learn supplication, speed, and submission for our stewardship to the Heavenly Father.
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