Stewardship

My apologies in advance for a political topic, but this hangs on my heart. According to an MSNBC article 11/13, China has been able to do what American citizens have not – brought attention to the Federal deficit and changes.

“China, the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities, has expressed concern about the size of U.S. deficits. U.S. policymakers worry that alarm over deficits could push foreigners into cutting back on their purchases of Treasury debt.” Apparently the Administration is calling for “… a freeze or even a 5 percent cut in their budgets, part of an election-year push to rein in record deficits that threaten the economy ...”

Perhaps a re-reading of Luke 16 would be advantageous.

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. (Luke 16:1 KJV)

There has been tremendous wasting of goods by a large number of people just within the last decade. Count only from Enron to Madoff, and don’t forget our own budgets, where we have some control. Several times in the past ten years we’ve seen the greed in one impacting many others. It is not confined to money. Greed for power, for a legacy, anything for ‘self’, ends in loss.

We lose sight of God’s care even as we read:

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:27-30 KJV)

His disciples didn’t believe He, and they, were in God’s care:

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:24-26 KJV)

They thought – as we do – of the material things even as He spoke of the spiritual:

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? (Matthew 16:7-8 KJV)

Do we trust Him enough to believe when He promises today:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31-33 KJV)