목양연가(牧羊戀歌)

Luke 16:1-10  “A Steward of the Lord”

The Bible says that we all are stewards of the Lord.  A steward in today’s definition means “a proxy or an agent who takes care of entrusted assets of his master.  A steward is obviously a servant.  He is trusted by his master and entrusted to care for his master’s assets as a servant, and has the privilege to manage other servants according to his will.   Therefore a steward is mostly self-regulating (autonomous) than other servants.  Of course, this is contingent (dependent) on him obeying the commands of his master.  As we see in this dimension, everyone in the world is a steward and it is right to recognize that the Master is in charge.  Therefore we will receive grace from a sermon titled “A Steward of the Lord.”

First, we all are stewards.  There is an old saying we “Came empty handed, go empty handed.”  This is very true.  When we are born by our mothers we receive life and bring nothing with us.  We did not bring things to eat or money to spend.  In spite of this we have lived well thus far.  How is this possible?  Our lives are settled in the place where everything is already prepared with fresh air, fresh water, and bountiful fruit in the field every season.  And with little effort we are able to obtain things to eat and to use.  Then, who was it that prepared everything before we were born?  It was God.  In John 1:3 it says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  Because God made everything in the universe He is the Master of all things.  He made all the things that we buy and sell as we wish and eat and live.  In this aspect we are autonomous as stewards.  Then, one among you may think like this, “Pastor, I understand all the things in this world have a master, and the Master is God, however, you didn’t say that my children, who I had, and myself are not God’s?”  I’m sorry to say this, but the Bible says your body and your children are not yours but God’s.  Psalm 127:3 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Children are given as a reward by God to enjoy them for a while in your hard life.  And in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  ²⁰For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”  This is true.  Look! if our body was ours, we should be able to do anything with it as we wish, shouldn’t we?  It will be ours if when we wished to be tall we were able to be tall, or if we wished to be short we were able to be short, if we were full without eating, no need to take a shower if we were able to be clean, and if we wished to live longer we were able to live thousands and thousands of years.  We need to know the true facts that we are not self-regulating (autonomous) when it comes to living or dying but we are dependent.  We may think our body belongs to us and try to eat well and dress well; however one day, when the Master says to stop living and come to Him, then we must leave all of a sudden without saying a word.  We may insist and say that this time is too soon and it is not time to die.   However, we must go because our body is not ours.  As we see this, we are only a steward and enjoying the things of the Master momentarily.

Secondly, the Lord said to give an account of your stewardship (Luke 16:2).  A while ago, we watched a government audit in Korea (Oct 1997).  There arose a great public criticism because of the Han-Bo case (some iron company).  Why was this?  It was because the government did not manage it right.  I felt so sorry just watching such a tragedy.  The president of the bank killed himself and the chief operating director of the bank and some politicians who were involved in that event went to jail when it came to light.  It is the same in our lives, we must remember that there will be a day when we open the written record of our lives and report to the Master before a multitude of angels and ancestral saints.  At that day, at that moment, how will we appear?  If we were able to stand in proud, commanding, majestic posture, how wonderful would it be?  But opposite of this, the Bible says there will be so many who feel ashamed.  In Daniel 12:2 it says, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  Now you and I who are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ will go to heaven even though we die now.  It is by faith that we go to heaven and not by deeds.  It is God’s promise and covenant to us that we are saved by believing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Then what do we have to give an account for?  We need to know that it is about the stewardship that we are entrusted with and the care we take with the Master’s estate.  The day when we open the report of our life as a steward, who has been entrusted to take care of the things of the Master, our God, if we present an empty paper, how shameful we will be?  This is the shameful salvation just like a person who was brought out from the fire which is written in the Bible.

Thirdly, then how do we live as a steward?  We have to live wisely and redeem the time.  We must be faithful and live for God’s glory.  When we look at Jesus’ life in this world, we see that He lived only for God’s glory and died on the cross according to the will of God.  Then how is our life supposed to be as we follow Jesus Christ?  We too live for God’s glory.  In fact, a legend says that all eleven disciples of Jesus were martyred.  We need to pay attention and understand that the way to give glory to God is absolutely not an easy way.  Jesus says to His disciples in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.””  Then He says we will be able to transform the world. 
Beloved saints!  How are we?  We normally pursue riches; but the Lord became poor to make us rich.  We seek comfort; but the Lord gave up His life so we may have life, for He was lonely, despised, and gave up His life and died.  We want to be welcomed; but the Lord was rejected and unwelcome.  We try to avoid pain; but the Lord gave up His life for others.  Jesus lived His life centered on others.  Jesus taught this and lived as an example and commended us to follow Him. 

Beloved saints!  I conclude with this, we are stewards who are entrusted with the things of the Master, God and have used them thus far.  We must know there is a day when we will stand before the Master as a steward.  I believe, before we hear the Master’s voice saying “To give an account,” we must use our given time, money, and talents well.  Of course, our Lord does not demand the same thing from each of us as individuals.  I believe when we do our best where we are placed to live, God’s glory will be revealed.  As a lay person, as a deacon, as a pastor, if we do our best God will be glorified.  “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . Enter into the joy of your lord.”   I bless you in the name of our Lord that you all receive praise from our Lord.

By: Rev. Samuel Choi