p. 74 | STEWARDSHIP by Augustus

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 3, 1887

STEWARDSHIP.

By Augustus

THERE are multitudes of men and women who have not yet begun to comprehend for what they were placed in this world, whose whole life seems to consist of a pursuit of pleasure with no thought of duty or responsibility, whose time is wasted, who avoid rather than do duty, whose recreation is mere frivolity, and what they term pleasure is only another name for sensuality and physical excitement. But men are accountable, not only for what they are, but for what they might become, not merely for the life that they are heedlessly wasting, but for the nobler life that they might attain by a wise improvement of what they now have. It is the interest account of life that will trouble most men at last. They may have kept the principal, like the man who wrapped his talent in a napkin (though there are few who neglect the possible increase that do not also spend the nest-egg), but when the question is asked, How much has been added to the principal by wise and careful use, how many will be compelled to own with shame that the percentage of profit is very small!

Property, too, is a gift of God, for which we are as much accountable as for the powers of mind or the emotions of the heart. Have not many of us more than is needful for reasonable wants, have we not more that ought to be used for God than we do use in his service? Is there nothing that we are holding for self upon which God has a prior claim? . . .

God has given us life, not that it may be wasted in indolence, or disfigured by evil passions; he has given us health, that the vigor of body and mind may be used in his service; he has given us property, that we may employ it for him in this world; he has given us influence, that we may impress upon others his goodness, his justice, his love; he has made offers of mercy and forgiveness, that the past of sin might not lead us to despair, and his warnings are uttered in our ears, that we may not presume upon his forbearance and hurry to ruin. He has given us the knowledge of himself, that we might rise to fellowship and enjoyment with him; might dwell with angels, and become heirs of a heavenly inheritance.

But these gifts are given for use only, and the Giver may at any moment resume that which we have no right to consider ours except in the light of a loan. Life is God's. He may snatch it from anyone who uses it to dishonor him and destroy others. Health is God's, and to those who abuse their vigor by indulging appetite, or reveling in sin while they forget God, he may send disease to weaken, and pain to rack their bodies. Wealth is God's, and if we selfishly hoard or recklessly spend it, leaving God out of account in our avarice or prodigality, he may give riches wings and leave us a prey to poverty and want. Powers of mind, his gift, which may have been used to apologize for sin and devise sinful delights and resist the truth, may be swept away, and with reason dethroned, the unfaithful steward may stare and gibber, a pitiable wreck upon the shores of lost opportunity. All that we have is God's, and if we leave out the idea of our responsibility to God in the performance of that trust, and live for self and for Satan, or drift aimless and useless through life into eternity, we will surely hear the sad sentence of our Lord, "Thou wicked and slothful servant!"—Augustus, in N. Y. Observer.