Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:14 NLT)
How much have you to dispense? Are you sure
that you are dispensing what you have? The Lord did not lead you through that
trial, through that darkness, through that strange experience, just for your own
sake. The Lord has not dealt with you as He has, in order that you should be
shut up to yourself, to enjoy the result alone. He has done that to constitute
you a steward. If you and I will only allow that fact to govern us in the days
of difficulty and trial, it will help us through. We should hold fast to the
fact that the trial is to mean enrichment for the Lord's people, and an increase
of equipment and qualification for stewardship.... Ask the Lord to release you into your stewardship within
your measure. We are not speaking of an official, organized service for God,
where you have to be continually ministering to others, whether you have the
resources with which to do it or not. That is all false, and puts strain upon
you; you may well revolt against that kind of thing. We simply have in mind the
way in which the Lord creates living contacts. Children of God may cross your
path in dire need, and may all the time be looking for the person who can help
them. They have been crying to the Lord to meet the need, and have been watching
to see how the Lord would answer. They may cross your path, and you talk upon
all sorts of ordinary things; they pass on their way, and you have failed in
your stewardship. They have not received that for which they have been asking,
and the steward has disappointed the Lord, and those who were looking to the
Lord. Let us ask the Lord to give us release from our tied-up state, to fulfill
this stewardship.
The Lord's Word is: "...it is required in
stewards, that a man be found faithful," not eloquent, intellectual, or with a
strong personality, none of those things. What is your mental conception of a
steward? One who has a great facility of speech, who finds no difficulty in
talking? No! "...it is required in stewards, that a man be found FAITHFUL."