Faithful Steward
Recently, I received an email from my bank stating, “Congratulations! Your excellent credit history has earned you a credit limit increase to [x number of dollars].” I was so excited, because I felt I was beginning to reap the benefits of being financially responsible. In that moment, God revealed to me that “this principle is not limited to finances — when you are faithful with and show gratitude for the portion I have blessed you with, I delight in giving you more.”
In that moment, I was also reminded of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25, specifically the following verse:
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
So often I feel we ask God to bless us with more, but I think it’s important for us to pause and ask ourselves, “Am I being faithful with or properly managing what God has already blessed me with?” I recently came across the following quote by Bishop T.D. Jakes that sums this idea up perfectly:
“You are asking for more but have yet to master less.”
This is such an important concept to grasp, because I believe our focus is on the blessing in and of itself, but we fail to acknowledge the increased responsibility that comes with more. As illustrated in the verse above, God delights in blessing us with more; but the key to unlocking this promise is stewardship. God loves us way too much to give us something we cannot handle. What may seem like a blessing may actually lead to destruction if we are not properly equipped or have the character to handle it.
Let’s revisit the first example I mentioned to further illustrate this point. Let’s say I went into a local bank requesting a credit limit increase. Before granting me an increase, the customer service representative will first assess whether or not I have the capacity to handle the increase by evaluating my income and, most importantly, my credit history. My credit history will show the representative how I have managed credit in the past. If my credit history reveals that I’m currently maxed out on the credit lines that I own and consistently fail to make the minimum payments on time, it wouldn’t make sense for the bank to grant me access to more credit.
If these facts were true, they would illustrate that I’m irresponsible and lack discipline — ultimately signaling to the bank that I would not be able to handle an increased credit line. Lacking the necessary character to properly manage credit, one could only imagine that if granted the credit limit increase I would be in debt over my head and may eventually have to file for bankruptcy.
Continuing with this concept of financial increase, God can’t bless us with more if we are selfish and don’t practice generosity. Often times when God blesses us, it’s never just about us. God desires to use us as vessels to bless others. So if He can’t trust us to give when He instructs us to give, He won’t increase us in this area. He also may be hesitant to increase us financially if we demonstrate that we don’t trust Him with our finances by tithing. All throughout scripture, God commands us to tithe — to give 10% of our income — and those who love God keep His commands. If we don’t currently tithe, we are foolish to think that we’ll start tithing once we have more money. If we struggle to give $10 out of $100, do we think it will be any easier for us to give $100 out of $1,000? Lastly, if our love for money is greater than our love for God, He most certainly won’t bless us to further fuel our idolatrous hearts.
To my fellow single ladies, God also won’t unite us with our future spouses until we learn to be faithful during and enjoy our single season. This season of our lives is such a precious gift. During this season we are able to give God our undistracted devotion. We are able to freely take advantage of opportunities. We also have more time to serve and to live in full pursuit of our purpose. If we are not being a faithful steward of and allowing God to mold, equip, and develop us during this season, He can’t bless us with a significant other. As with money, He also won’t bless us with a man (or woman for my brothers reading this), if our love and desire for a man (or woman) is greater than our love for Him.
Lastly, we can’t expect God to continue giving us new insights, deeper revelations, and new instructions if we haven’t already acted on the word(s) He has already spoken to us. So often we pray and ask God to show us our purpose or to give us more direction and God is thinking, “You have yet to obey or act on the small instructions I’ve already given you.” We get so caught up on the big picture that we fail to realize that the small steps of obedience are the very steps that will lead us to the next assignment, our purpose, or the next season in life.
Just like we didn’t get promoted in grade school until we mastered our current grade level, God can’t increase us or bless us with more until we have been faithful in what we have already been given. So if you’re reading this and have been desiring and asking for more – a promotion, a greater sphere of influence, a new house or car, whatever the desire is – I challenge you to ask yourself, “Am I being a good steward of and grateful for what God has already blessed me with?”
With love,
Imanne