Stewardship

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things." - Matthew 25:23

The idea of stewardship has been on my heart and mind more than ever lately; it's something about which I've become increasingly convicted throughout the past several years. As it relates to money, our family will be transitioning back down to one income, so it's an obvious time to evaluate how faithful we are being. As far as our gifts and talents, we are experiencing a few months of rest from involvement in too many things, so it seems like a natural time, as well, to revisit what God has instilled in us to use. I also find with more time at my discretion now because of the end of my teaching duties, I need to think about what I'm doing with this time and how it's spent. In my mind, these are the three main areas that we are required to be faithful servants - they guide and direct every area of life.
I don't feel that many of my first 30 years of life here on earth have been faithfully spent in these areas. My heart is especially burdened with how I have chosen to use money in my life. Proverbs states that the borrower is servant to the lender (22:7) and increasingly God has convicted me of that fact. I am tired of debt hanging over my head with no end in sight. Student loans, cars, home, credit cards.....it's a burden, and I know God did not intend for our lives to be lived in this way. What gives me hope is that God has truly opened my eyes to His design for my life, and I know that when I faithfully commit to becoming a wise steward, He will provide the way out of this bondage.
I know that one day each of us will stand before the Lord to give an account of how we've spent our lives and the resources entrusted to us: time, energy, money/materials, gifts and talents. On that day, what do I want to say to him? Well, right now I seem to only come up with lame excuses for the ways in which I've failed, but what I WANT to be able to say to him, along with the faithful servants in Matthew 25 is: Master, loving Father, you entrusted to me material goods: a home, money, things well beyond my daily needs. See, I used them to heal your sick, feed and house your poor, hospitably entertain those you brought to me. I cared for and faithfully administered all gains you saw fit to put into my care. Master, you entrusted me with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, for ___________ years. See, I used this time to draw closer to you in order to better reflect your image and to act and speak in such a way that glory was brought to your name. Father, you entrusted to me gifts/talents/passion for service, music, prayer, and the written word. See, I have used them to the fullest, showing others your love in the process. I have lived a life of love and thanksgiving, prioritizing/spending/living wisely, always longing for your return and my homecoming.
And what do I long to hear the master say to me in return? Simply, "Well done, good and faithful servant..Come and share your master's happiness. "
For now, I close in peace, praising God for opening my eyes, and trusting Him to help me bear the burden of responsibility for what he has given into my care on this earth.