“While it remained, was it not your own?” Underpinning Peter’s declaration to Ananias in Acts 1:4 is a significant truth. God has placed into each person’s hand something over which he is a steward. For one person, it might be possessions. For another, it may be time or abilities. For still someone else, he or she may be a steward over children.
What remains true irrespective over what one is a steward is the reality that we are all stewards. Every person should recognize stewardship as fundamental to God’s expectations for our lives.
Jesus spoke of stewardship in Luke 12. Verses 42-44 reads, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.”
Jesus spoke this to Peter after delivering a parable about the coming of the Lord and declaring, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40).
Everything in creation and even the very breath in our lungs belong to God. The particles of the universe down to the lowest level belong to God. They are His creation.
Hebrews 1:1-3 reads, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”
So, while we live on Earth, live in a body that has life, breathe air, earn money and have within our power possessions, all of which belong to God, what are we doing with all of this stewardship responsibility?
Have you asked yourself, “How does my master desire me to use these things?” Are you going to be found faithful or end up like the steward in Luke 12:46? “The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”
Ananias was struck dead by God, not because of his poor stewardship of money but instead because of his words. Glorifying God with money while lying to God with the tongue is not acting as a faithful steward.
