By Dr. Rebekah McCloud

My nugget each Sunday is supposed to be a stewardship nugget. I’m supposed to talk about how to use God’s time, talent, money and resources. That hasn’t happened a lot, lately. There have been a few said talks sprinkled in between some other topics. God always provides me with the inspiration for the nugget through events in my life, things that I’ve read, or thoughts that have come to me through worship or a song.

I’m clear that God is leading me and I see his handiwork throughout the pages. But, I been asking him lately why he’s leading me in a way that seems astray to my mission, my prime directive, if you will. And, he answered me as we prepared this nugget.

Being a good steward of God’s time, talent, money and resources is a natural manifestation of being a good Christian. You cannot have the latter without the former. This is not a chicken or egg conversation. It’s clear. Good Christians are good stewards. Wow and Amen!

Good is a relative term. When I say it, each one of us has our own definition of what it means. Many years ago, one of my students attended a concert; she had a “good” time. In fact, she said it was the best time of her life and she pulled her t-shirt off her shoulder to show me the bite mark she had received from a fellow concert goer. I don’t know about yawl, but by no stretch of the imagination does a bite constitute a good time for me.

According to Bing[1] as an adjective, the word good means, “to be desired or approved of, having the qualities required of a particular role or possessing or displaying moral values.” As a noun, it means “that which is morally right; righteousness or of benefit or advantage to someone or something.” As an adverb, it means “well.”

It seems that good is a big little word. Let’s unpack this definition and see what the Bible has to say about each of these.

• First, to be desired or approved of – 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
• Next, having the qualities required of a particular role—Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Amen.
• Then, the definition says possessing or displaying moral values—Psalms 119:9 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
• Next, it includes that which is morally right— James 1:22 admonishes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
• Then, there’s righteousness—Philippians 3:8-9 reads, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” Amen.
• Next, being of benefit or advantage to someone or something—Ephesians 5:15-18 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
• Finally, the definition ends with well—The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9 not to grow weary of well doing and Romans 2:7 says, “to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.”

God has not led me astray. There’s a lot here to start us on our journey to becoming or continuing to be good stewards. Like Paul, I’m pressing toward the mark. And I want to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

It’s clear. Good Christians are good stewards. You cannot have the latter without the former. Wow and Amen!

[1] Good found at https://www.bing.com/search?q=definition+of+good&form=EDGSPH&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=ad0f94d92709403a970c7f2f78fc2ec4&PC=DCTS&sp=-1&ghc=1&pq=definition+of+good&sc=8-18&qs=n&sk=&cvid=ad0f94d92709403a970c7f2f78fc2ec4