INTRODUCTION

In a basic sense, a steward is one who oversees the possessions of another. In scripture, they oversee the substance and possession of the king (1 Chronicles 28:1And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
See All...) or labourers in a vineyard (Matthew 20:8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
See All...). The life of a steward was consumed with the needs and the wants of the master. The job description was all-inclusive. Eliezer, Abraham’s steward (Genesis 15:2And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
See All...), ruled over all that Abraham had (Genesis 24:2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
See All...), but also went forth to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 24:9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
See All...). The master’s needs became the steward’s responsibility, all the while he was responsible for what the master had placed under his care and supervision.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Potiphar placed Joseph over all that he had (Genesis 39:4-6 [4] And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. [5] And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. [6] And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
  See All...). Because of a lie told on him, Joseph ended up in prison. He again became a steward (Genesis 39:20-23 [20] And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. [21] But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. [22] And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. [23] The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
  See All...). Eventually, he became a steward for Pharaoh over the land of Egypt (Genesis 41:40-47 [40] Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. [41] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [42] And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; [43] And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. [44] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. [45] And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. [46] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. [47] And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
  See All...).
• Look up the word steward in scripture. What are some of the responsibilities given to stewards? What can you learn from the work of a steward that might help you be a better Christian?
• In what ways is a stewardship akin to Christianity? What responsibilities do you have that would be similar to that of a steward?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to teach you how to be a good steward.
• Ask God to help you be faithful in your stewardship for Him.

HYMN

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

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