What other scriptures emphasize the importance of stewardship and resource management? Grounding Truth: 1 Chronicles 27:26 “Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.” David’s administration assigned a specific overseer to manage agricultural labor. Scripture spotlights this post—not as filler—but as affirmation that cultivating, guarding, and distributing God-given resources is sacred work. Wide-Angle Lens: Other Passages on Stewardship & Resource Management • Genesis 1:28 – “God blessed them and said… ‘Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish… the birds… and every creature.’” • Genesis 2:15 – “The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” • Leviticus 25:23-24 – “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is Mine… you are but foreigners and tenants with Me. Thus for every piece of land you possess, you must grant redemption.” • Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – “You may say in your heart, ‘The power and strength of my hands have gained me this wealth,’ but remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth.” • Proverbs 27:23-24 – “Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever.” • Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” • Psalm 24:1 – “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell in it.” • Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents: each servant judged on how he invested his master’s assets. • Luke 16:10-12 – “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much… If you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?” • 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 – “He who sows generously will also reap generously… You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.” • Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men.” • 1 Peter 4:10 – “Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Key Principles Surfacing from These Texts 1. Ownership: God owns everything (Psalm 24:1; Leviticus 25:23). 2. Delegated Authority: Humanity manages on His behalf (Genesis 1:28; 2:15). 3. Accountability: A reckoning will come (Matthew 25:19; Luke 16:2). 4. Diligence & Planning: Know your resources, track them, improve them (Proverbs 27:23-24). 5. Generational Vision: Stewardship thinks beyond one lifetime (Proverbs 13:22). 6. Dependence on God: Even the ability to produce wealth is His gift (Deuteronomy 8:18). 7. Generosity: Wise management fuels giving (2 Corinthians 9:11; 1 Peter 4:10). 8. Excellence in Labor: Work is worship when done “for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Putting It Into Practice Today • Conduct a fresh inventory—time, skills, finances, possessions. Recognize each as the Lord’s. • Budget, schedule, and maintain with Proverbs-style diligence. • Invest in ways that bless others, reflect integrity, and consider long-term impact. • Teach the next generation: include them in planning, saving, and giving decisions. • Aim for faithful obedience in “little things” to qualify for larger Kingdom opportunities. |
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