Stewardship

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We also read that we are blessed even if these blessings are not physically manifested. One of the benefits of having faith is the fact that with it, we are able to see the unseen. We may have an earthly hope that things will happen in a certain way. An earthly hope expires at the end of this life, but faith-generated hope can never be invalidated by the end of the earthly life. For this reason, the blessings that are spiritual and are, as at now, suspended in the heavenly realms, are as real as they can get.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”—Ephesians 1:3.

As we mature and get transformed into assuming the attitude of our Lord Jesus Christ, we reach a point where we minister to the needy around us not necessarily because we are doing a deal with God where we are preoccupied with what He is going to give us back. On the contrary, ministering to the SWOP becomes a lifestyle. We were created in the image of God and it is His nature to do good to all people, including those who neither give Him anything back nor thank Him.

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”—Matthew 5:45.

The Good Samaritan’s benevolence (Luke 10:30-37) was not motivated by expectations of getting anything back from the man or anybody. Interestingly, he wasn’t even expecting anything from God. He was not religious. Believers who practice Good-Samaritanism are the ones that will be surprised by the Lord like the people described in Matthew 25:37-40. They will ask: When did we do all these things to You? The Lord will answer and said: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (v. 40).

It is human and natural to do good to others. It is our ‘factory setting.’ If we don’t get ‘customized’ by the devil, we wouldn’t always expect to gain whenever we help our neighbour.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”—Ephesians 2:10.

May I clear the air by emphasising that if you lend out something, there is no problem expecting it back., but there are always people who would sweet-talk you that they are borrowing, but for one reason or the other, they wouldn’t pay you back. There are people who are good in borrowing and poor in paying back. They would even afford some luxuries but feel that they have no money to pay you back—don’t start a war with them. Lending and letting go is like forgiveness. If you do it, it is for your benefit, spiritually speaking. This is why I said at the beginning, don’t lend what you cannot afford to lose.

It may be too bad for you to ‘lose’ your money but it is worse for the one who wouldn’t pay back after borrowing. While you are ‘losing’ your money, God is ‘losing’ a soul. If you have the heart of the Father, you should bemoan the lost soul more than the lost money.

Jesus told a parable where he likened somebody who would not let go of his indebted brother to someone who wouldn’t forgive.

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

“The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

“And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”—Matthew 18:23-35.

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