What lessons can we learn about stewardship from Deuteronomy 28:31? Setting the Scene “Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it; your donkey will be snatched away from you and not returned; your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will save you.” (Deuteronomy 28:31) This verse belongs to the list of covenant curses Moses delivered to Israel for rejecting God’s commands. Though spoken to ancient Israel, the principles shine a bright light on stewardship today. A Sobering Portrait of Failed Stewardship • Loss of the ox—primary field power—shows productive capacity destroyed. • Donkey stolen—means of transport and trade cut off. • Flock handed to enemies—future income and food supply removed. • “Before your eyes… not returned… no one to save you”—utter helplessness. Everything God had entrusted is wasted or captured because the people refused His voice (v. 15). Key Lessons for Modern Stewards 1. God Owns, We Manage • Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.” • When owners rebel against the true Owner, He may recall His assets. 2. Obedience Protects Resources • Deuteronomy 28:2: blessings “will overtake you, if you obey.” • Verse 31 flips that promise—disobedience unravels what diligence once built. 3. Enjoyment of Labor Is a Gift, Not a Right • Ecclesiastes 3:13: “every man should eat and drink… it is the gift of God.” • In v. 31, they watch their ox slaughtered but taste nothing—privilege forfeited. 4. Neglecting God Invites External Losses • Malachi 3:11: God rebukes the devourer for faithful givers. • Without His covering (v. 31), enemies, thieves, and destroyers gain access. 5. Stewardship Includes Future Generations • Flocks and herds were inheritance capital (Proverbs 13:22). • Their disappearance means children inherit scarcity, not stability. Practical Takeaways for Today • Evaluate: Am I honoring God with possessions or merely enjoying them? • Prioritize obedience over accumulation; blessings follow alignment. • Guard resources through generosity and integrity; God defends faithful stewards. • Teach children that property is a divine trust, not an autonomous possession. • Remember: security is spiritual before it is financial. “The LORD is my shepherd; I will lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1) Wrapping Up Deuteronomy 28:31 is more than an ancient warning—it is a mirror. Faithful stewardship flows from faithful hearts. Keep God at the center, and the ox, the donkey, and the flock remain under His protective hand. |
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