The Heart of Stewardship: Faithfulness *
Pharaoh had a problem.
He’d had a very disturbing dream, and none of his counselors could figure it out.
Then, one of his servants (the chief cupbearer) remembered that a fellow named Joseph, now languishing in prison, had this unusual gift of interpreting dreams. Joseph, a faithful steward now nearly forgotten, had been given a gift by God that would put him back into a place of influence.
Joseph was cleaned up and brought before Pharaoh. And when Pharaoh described the dream, Joseph was given insight into its meaning – an upcoming drought cycle that would seriously impact the nation of Egypt.
Pharaoh was going to need a creative, wise, pro-active, reliable, proven administrator to help prepare the country. Someone to whom he could delegate a huge swath of responsibility.
Hmmmm….where could he find such a person??
Joseph was elevated to a position that could probably best be described as vice-pharaoh: Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Prisoner one day. Big kahuna the next. From wearer of rags to wearer of the king’s signet ring. Why?
Joseph had passed the test. He had a track record of proven faithfulness. He had been competent and loyal all along. He was gifted by God to carry responsibility and to have unusual insight.
When God wants to make a squash, He takes a few months. When He wants an oak, He takes years. Ask Abraham. Ask Moses. Ask Joseph. Ask any of a number of saints through the ages, down to the present day.
It takes time to form and prove a faithful steward. No shortcuts. And if God is willing to invest that time, so should we be.
Today, let us be faithful. And tomorrow. And next week. When it is time to move up higher, God will make that plain.
—–
* This series is part of a 12-week study on the topic: Being Stewards of God <— (outline). We’re now in week 4, considering how faithfulness is central to stewardship. If you’d like to receive these posts in your inbox, just put your email address in the Email Subscription box on the blog’s right sidebar.