Armodoxy for Today: Gift of Stewardship

This is the week of the Steward.  We’re focusing on the Parable offered by Jesus as recorded in the 16^th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Jesus uses the metaphor to point to our responsibility in life. We continue on the themes we presented over the last several days.

Al usar la metáfora de la administración, Jesús deja muy claro que somos responsables de nuestra vida. Un día, al igual que el administrador, se nos pedirá que presentemos un registro, una rendición de cuentas de nuestra administración. ¿Qué hiciste con lo que Dios te ha dado? ¿Te dio talentos? ¿Te dio una habilidad? ¿Te dio una sonrisa? ¿Te dio un latido y un aliento? ¿Qué hiciste con ese regalo? ¿Qué hiciste con tu vida?

Imagine giving a gift to a friend or a loved one. Wouldn’t you like to know that your friend enjoyed that gift? At some point wouldn’t you like to ask, “What did you do with that gift that I gave you? Did you enjoy it?” And certainly, how hurt you would be if that person had taken your gift and stored it in a closet or worse yet, just thrown it in the trash and never once paid attention to it. Likewise, God wants to know that the gift He has given us, that most valuable commodity – the breath that we breath, the heart that beats, the smile that comes from our hearts – is being used, and is being used wisely. Ultimately, is it being used to spread love of God to others. That is the demand put upon us as stewards of God’s gifts. We are stewards of our lives. We are responsible for the talents that are given to us, to share them, use them, and to give an account of How? Where? And What did we do with all that God has given us?

Entre los siete pecados capitales se encuentra uno llamado “pereza”, quizás el más incomprendido porque apunta a la inactividad, mientras que los otros pecados requieren que seas activo, que participes en el pecado. Este pecado se define simplemente por ser perezoso, por no hacer algo. Ahora piensa en eso por un momento. ¿Por qué sería eso un pecado? ¿Cómo puede el no hacer algo ser un pecado?

Dios te ha dado un regalo. No tienes derecho a guardarlo en un armario. No tienes derecho a tomar el regalo de Dios y tirarlo a la basura. Es santo. Es sagrado. Eso es lo que es tu vida. Cada bendición, cada momento que tienes en tu vida es un regalo sagrado de Dios.

We will continue on this theme of stewardship as we continue on this week. For today, let us conclude with the prayer of St. Nerses Shnorhali:
Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom that I may always think, speak and do that which is good in your site. Save me from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Have mercy upon all your creatures, and upon me, a great sinner. Amen. (I Confess with Faith 11/24)