时间、才干和财富的管理
所求于管家的是要他有忠心。
—哥林多前书 4:2
基督徒的管家职责基于这样的信念：上帝是我们所有和所有事物的源泉，我们要对如何使用这些恩赐向他负责。因为“地和其中所充满的都属耶和华”，我们应该张开双手，心甘情愿地与他人分享我们的资源。
我们是时间的管家。以弗所书 5:16 说：“要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶。”我们在世上的时间短暂而易逝。我们是在用它来取悦上帝还是为自己服务？
我们是自己能力的管家。我们不应该用这些能力来获得个人的认可或晋升，而应该用来祝福他人，建立基督的教会。即使我们的才干似乎微不足道，机会有限，我们也应该找到自己的位置，忠实地为上帝的荣耀尽我们所能。我们想听到主人的话：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人”（马太福音 25:23）。
我们是财宝的管家。如果我们真正认识到上帝是合法的主人，而我们只是金钱和财产的看管者，我们就会明智地使用它们。耶稣说我们不应该在地上积攒财宝，而应该在天上积攒财宝，“天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷”（马太福音 6:20）。
积攒天上财宝的一种方法是，用真正的基督徒之爱的言语和行为，以实际的方式回应我们周围的需要。每个人都应该“照上帝所赐给他的”自由地奉献（哥林多前书 16:2），无私地分享，利用他的地上资源来推进上帝的国度。我们的造物主值得我们作为他丰厚礼物的管家，谦卑地、感恩地赞美他。
马克·克罗普夫 – 俄勒冈州哈尔西
你们白白的得来，也要白白的舍去。 – 马太福音 10:8
引自 8月3日的《溪水旁》，阿米什人的灵修
Stewardship of Time, Talents, and Treasure
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Christian stewardship is based on the conviction that God is the source of all we have and all we are, and that we are accountable to Him for how we use these gifts. Since “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” we should hold our resources with an open hand and share them willingly with others.
We are stewards of our time. Ephesians 5: 16 says, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Our time on earth is short and fleeting. Are we using it to please God or to serve ourselves?
We are stewards of our abilities. We should use these not to gain personal recognition or advancement, but to benefit others and build Christ’s church. Even if our talents seem small and our opportunities limited, we should find our place and faithfully do what we can for God’s glory. We want to hear the words of our Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25: 23).
We are stewards of our treasure. If we truly recognized that God is the rightful owner and that we are but caretakers of our money and possessions, we will use them wisely. Jesus said we should lay up treasures not on earth but in Heaven, “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6: 20).
One way of storing up heavenly treasure is to respond in practical ways to the needs around us, with words and deeds of genuine Christian love. Each person should give freely “as God hath prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16: 2), sharing unselfishly and using his earthly resources to advance God’s kingdom. Our Maker is worthy to receive humble, thankful praise from us as stewards of His bountiful gifts.
Mark Kropf – Halsey, OR
Freely yet have received, freely give. – Matthew 10: 8
Cited from Aug. 3, Beside the Still Water, Amish Devotion.