How does 1 Chronicles 26:3 connect to the broader theme of stewardship? Text of 1 Chronicles 26:3 “Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.” The Verse in Context • 1 Chronicles 26 lists the divisions of the gatekeepers—Levites entrusted with guarding the entrances to the temple. • Verses 1-3 record the names and birth order of Meshelemiah’s sons. Their enumeration testifies that each son had a defined, inherited duty at the house of God. • By naming them, Scripture underscores that every individual steward carries personal responsibility before the Lord. Stewardship Exemplified by the Gatekeepers • Protection of sacred space – Gatekeepers managed access to the sanctuary, ensuring everything within remained holy (1 Chronicles 9:23-27). • Accountability – “By their divisions, all these men were entrusted with the gates…” (1 Chronicles 26:12). Their roles were recorded to prevent neglect. • Order and structure – The detailed family lists show that stewardship is not random but organized, traceable, and generational. Key Stewardship Principles Drawn from the Verse 1. Individual Assignment • Each named son held a specific gate. Likewise, God assigns every believer a place of service (1 Corinthians 12:18). 2. Generational Faithfulness • Duties passed from father to sons. Faithful stewardship today prepares the next generation to serve (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 3. Visibility and Record • Being listed in Scripture immortalizes their faithfulness. God notices and records every act of stewardship (Hebrews 6:10). 4. Shared Responsibility • Seven brothers shouldered the task together. Stewardship flourishes in cooperative community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Connecting to Wider Biblical Teaching on Stewardship • Trustworthiness required: “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). • Faithfulness in little leads to greater trust: “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much” (Luke 16:10). • Use of gifts for God’s glory: “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another…” (1 Peter 4:10). • Accountability at Christ’s return: The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) mirrors the gatekeepers’ accountability. Stewardship Lessons for Today • Take inventory of the “gate” God has placed in your care—home, church ministry, workplace influence. • Embrace your assignment, however ordinary; unnamed corners of service still matter eternally. • Cultivate systems that ensure integrity—schedules, budgets, and successors who will carry on after you. • Serve alongside others; stewardship is strengthened in fellowship. • Remember that God records faithfulness. Like Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai, your name and labor are known to Him. |
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