Rooted in Worshipنموونە

Stewarding Worship

Have you ever been given the privilege of wearing a beautiful crown or tiara? The closest I have come to wearing a royal crown was an orange cardboard crown with a Burger King logo on it!

Throughout the New Testament, there are great rewards for a life devoted to Christ. One of the rewards mentioned in the scriptures is a crown. An example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 where Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

In Revelation 4, there is a heavenly scene in which the elders fall down before Jesus and lay their crowns at his feet.

“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:10-11

They worship him with their words, but they also worship him with their crowns! The precious reward each one has received becomes a precious offering. They offer their crowns in worship to their king!

When you and I stand in His presence, we will also recognize that our achievements are nothing in light of His sacrifice and glory. The crown will pale in comparison to what he truly deserves, but standing before him, we will be compelled to worship with everything we have.

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

With this in mind, how do we earn a crown that will last forever? There are a variety of ways explained in the scriptures. James says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life” (James 1:12). Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

We will receive a crown if we honor Jesus with the way we live. We are stewards of God’s provision in our lives. The word steward simply means a manager of what belongs to someone else. The Lord has given us much to work with: our creativity, intellect, job, time, personality, influence, money, talents, house, possessions, passions, spiritual gifts, and especially our testimony! We have the chance to steward all of these resources with His Kingdom in mind. He is the king; we are his representatives. When we faithfully steward what has been entrusted to us, we will receive a reward.

Are you stewarding well? Think for a moment about your work. Whether you are a sales associate, an engineer, a wedding planner, a missionary, a student, a homemaker, a construction worker, or a cashier- whatever you do- you have a chance to worship the Lord in your work. In our work, we can worship God through our attitudes, work ethic, performance, care, and character. This is a form of worship to God!

Sometimes, living a life surrendered to God means stewarding our suffering in a way that honors Him. When suffering comes, do I run away from the Lord, or do I run to him? Do I see suffering as something I have to go through or something that the Lord may want me to grow through?

Sometimes, living a life committed to Jesus Christ will lead to persecution. If you are persecuted for the Gospel, celebrate! You are in good company! “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).

God has entrusted you with much. Stewardship is an opportunity to offer heartfelt worship to the Lord by acknowledging him as Lord and King. As you respond to the Lord's leading with faith and obedience, stewardship will become easier and more natural over time. Make it your goal to steward well all that the Lord has entrusted to you today!

Reflection:

Are you stewarding your resources for the Kingdom in a manner worthy of a crown?

Are you stewarding your testimony for the Kingdom in a manner worthy of a crown?

Are you stewarding your trials for the Kingdom in a manner worthy of a crown?