Devotions Inspired By Beyond BlessedSample

STEWARDING YOUR SPOUSE
by Jimmy Evans

As stewards, we will one day stand before God in judgment to give an account for how we have managed what is His. But did you know that also includes how we treated the people God has entrusted to us—our spouses and children? 

One of the most basic premises of stewardship is that we are not owners— we are managers of what God owns. And we cannot own people—God owns them. Therefore, more than we steward our wealth, talents, or anything else, we are first and foremost stewards of people beginning with our immediate families and especially our spouses. The things in our lives are mere objects that exist to serve those whom God loves. The ultimate perversion of stewardship is to forsake the people in our lives—especially our spouses and children—for the sake of money, fame, or personal gain. 

Instead, when we are faithful and wise stewards of God’s household like Jesus talks about in Luke 12:42–44, He is pleased and promises lavish blessings in return. So how will we be judged? He will examine if our lives enhanced and bettered those around us for His sake or had a negative effect. The people around us belong to God, and we are stewards responsible to treat them as He would. When we do this obediently, we are pleasing to God and will receive lavish rewards when we are called into account on the day of judgment. 

The most precious gift God has given me in this life is my wife, Karen. As a young husband I dominated her, ignored her, and spoke to her harshly at times. I deeply wounded her with my careless words and uncaring behavior. At that time, I was oblivious to the stewardship I had for her as God’s precious daughter. And I would have been completely unprepared to stand in account for her and how I had treated her. 

But not today! One day early in our marriage, the Lord came to me and in an instant showed me how wrong I was. Now, by God’s grace, I am His steward of Karen. And I am prepared to give an account for her and the other precious people God has entrusted to me. How about you? Are you an obedient people steward?

PRAYER
Father, I accept today that I am a steward of the people You have put into my life—especially my spouse and children. I realize they don’t belong to me and I don’t have the right to treat them as I wish. I surrender now as a steward of my family and the people You have put into my life. Fill me with Your grace and supernatural power to be an obedient steward. I pray that everyone around me will be bettered and blessed by the influence my life has upon theirs. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. PSALM 24:1 (NLT)