By Fylvia Fowler Kline
Summary: A steward’s job is not limited to prayer, or finance, or quality control. Every breath of life, every shred of resource, every gift from God, is woven and held together with prayer, service, and a relationship with Christ Jesus.
Martin Luther and his friend both lived in the same monastery. Both held the same beliefs about the Christian faith. Theirs was a joint effort: Luther stepped into the warpath for the Reformation. The friend remained in the monastery, continuously praying for Luther, asking the outpouring of God’s strength on Luther. One night the friend had a dream. He saw an endless field that seemed to touch the horizon. The field was filled with corn ready for harvest. And he saw one solitary man trying to reap the field all by himself—an impossible task. Then he saw the face of the solitary worker. It was Martin Luther. The dream had brought home the truth. The friend responded, I must leave my prayers and get to work.
There are some who, because of physical limitations, are unable to do anything but pray and their prayers do indeed bring strength to the workers. But most of us are blessed with strength of body and clarity of mind. To stay on bended knees in prayer for those who labor in the fields is not enough. To give generous offerings to finance the task is not enough. Each of us is God’s steward, in total partnership with Him. Stewards are totally committed to the Master’s business, for it is their business as well. Their job is not limited to prayer, or finance, or quality control. Every breath of life, every shred of resource, every gift from God, is woven and held together with prayer, service, and a relationship with Christ Jesus. The sheaves are ripe, the harvest ready. What is God’s worker, God’s steward, to do?
