In today’s culture and society, we are seeing an increasing trend that normalizes mediocrity with regard to a woman’s role in the home; in particular.
“It’s okay that your home is in a constant state of disarray; this is real life.”
“It’s okay to let the kids have a free for all, because Mom is overwhelmed.”
“We’re just gonna stay home from church because it’s been a long week…but we’ll still make it to sports practices.”
“Not tonight honey, I’m so exhausted from the day. Tomorrow?”
“I just can’t do all the ‘extra’ things for my family right now and it’s okay; it’s just a season; the Lord understands me and knows my heart.”
I would like to make a quick disclaimer before I continue. I am not perfect. I am far from it though my striving. But my heart is to love, honor, and obey the Lord which is what has led me to sharing with you the idea/inspiration behind Faithfully Stewarding. What I’m sharing with you are convictions that I hold based on what I understand about the will of God (from the Bible) for our lives. If anything, I myself am reminded and encouraged through this blog post; to faithfully steward every responsibility that the Lord has entrusted into my hands. My hope and prayer is that this is a blessing and encouragement to you; to identify areas that are being neglected and then to more faithfully steward them every day.
Now friend…with love, can I call you up higher?
Stewardship is simply the caring for a responsibility that you hold. The time and attention that you give it. How you manage/ or use it. If an employee is underperforming and always giving excuses for their shortcomings, never taking responsibility or necessary steps to improve; we’d say they’re not a good employee and they should be fired.
Well, what makes us any different? Listen, I am not judging. I’ve been there and made those same excuses. But, I have since come to understand that is not God’s will for us as keepers of the home, nor does it honor or glorify Him.
Now, there certainly are times where our efforts are inevitably reduced. For example: illness, a new baby in the home, or grieving a loss. But we’re not intended to remain in a perpetual state of “out of the office.” Part of being a faithful steward is taking care of yourself during such times that pull or hinder us from our duties. So, please, take care of yourself! But don’t begin making excuses to stay in a state of mediocrity.
Sister, if this is you…then you simply are not giving you best to the Lord.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
2 Corinthians 9:8
In whichever season of life we find ourselves, as born-again Bible believing Christian women, we should be doing everything for the glory of God. Think about that. What does it mean to glorify? To cause reason or to shew forth His praise that He is due. Because He is good! He is good on any and every bad day that we have.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
Take a moment and think about everything you are responsible for. Everything you put your name on. Do you steward those responsibilities faithfully? Do you give it 100+% for the glory of God? According to the Webster’s 1828 dictionary faithful, among others, denotes ‘Firmly adhering to duty; of true fidelity; loyal; true to allegiance; as a faithful subject.‘ What a beautiful picture! Can you imagine the glory we bring to the Lord, when we faithfully steward our lives?
And did you know that the chief end of man is to glorify God? This means, even when you are in the thick of mundane tasks, we must do it to the glory of God. Dishes…to the glory of God. Constantly redirecting your testing child…to the glory of God. Pouring into your husband even though you’ve had a long day…to the glory of God. Fill in the blank…whatever it is, we must do it for the glory of God. And when we care more about glorifying the Lord, it is my experience, that these seemingly mundane tasks become much easier to carry out.
If we find ourselves having an attitude of contempt, then that speaks of a deeper issue…a matter of our heart posture.
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Do you remember when the Israelites were making their journey from Egypt through the wilderness to the Promised Land? If not, I would encourage you to go back to Exodus and maybe do a little study or spend time of devotion, there. What stands out to you? What do you notice about the Israelites?
For me, I notice the stench of complaint, murmuring, and unthankfulness. After God had mightily delivered them… how quickly they were to forget, and murmur and complain.
Heart posture is very important and something that, I personally, have really become aware of, in my own walk with the Lord; and as I raise my children. A good heart posture will render a good motive with a right attitude. A bad heart posture will do the opposite and it becomes very clear when this is the case.
Our mind can be Satan’s stomping grounds if we allow it. We must be filling our mind with the Word of God; our daily bread…life… to bear good fruit…to yield a good heart posture.
This is the beginning of faithful stewardship.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Sisters, this is a topic very near and dear to my heart as it is something that I’ve walked through and speak from my own experience. I plan to share much more on this topic. It’s something we must prioritize every day. Am I gonna show up 100+% today, or mediocre the day away? Absolutely no shame intended here whatsoever. Rather, empowerment to be a faithful steward.
I hope you feel comfortable sharing your experiences, what you struggle with in terms of being a faithful steward, how you were encouraged by this post, or maybe encouragement that you’d like to pass on to others. Thank you for reading and reflecting with me, today. I’ll see you soon.
Yours Truly,
Sarah Renae
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:2
