Stewardship Lessons From God's Steward LeadersSample

A Steward Leader Reorders His Personal Priorities   

Once Sundar Singh gave his life to Christ, he faced a lot of opposition from his family. But despite his family's pleas, bribes, and threats, Sundar was baptized into the Christian faith on his birthday in 1905.

For Sundar Singh, his relationship with Jesus was more important than his family. When his family offered him large sums of money to recant, he refused. When they cut him off from his inheritance and threw him out of the house because of his faith, he still kept his priorities and refused to recant. He said “Whether I live or die does not matter. I belong to Jesus Christ and that is enough for me.”

After his father spoke words of official rejection over him, Sundar became an outcast from his people. At that time, he decided to become a Christian sadhu so that he could dedicate himself to the Lord’s service.

The life of a Sadhu was a chosen life of self-denial, suffering and bearing the cross. Brought up in luxury in a rich family, Sundar Singh as a Sadhu wandered barefooted, without any possessions except his thin linen garment, a blanket and a New Testament in Urdu. 

As a young boy, Sundar Singh went northward through North India, crossing the highest mountain passes into Tibet. His thin, yellow robe gave him little protection against the snow, and his feet became torn from the rough tracks. Not many months had passed before the little Christian communities of the North were referring to him as “the apostle with the bleeding feet.” 

Jesus made it very clear in Mark 10:29-30 what should be the priorities of a steward.

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He asks us to reorganize our priorities. He must now be the number one person in our lives. We are to put no other purpose, person, or possession ahead of Him.

Being a true disciple of Jesus doesn’t mean just “coming to church for an hour a week,” it means following Him as His disciple and being willing to give up anything He asks you for.

But Jesus also assures us that if we will leave all and follow Him, there are multiplied blessings that will come our way.

In the centuries since Christ's death, many dedicated disciples have found fulfillment on these words in their own lives. They have had to "leave" their people and possessions in order to follow Christ. But, for every fleshly relationship lost, they gained hundreds of brothers and sisters in Christ; for every alienated parent, hundreds in God's family to care for them; for every possession lost, spiritual blessings, many times greater.

Sundar Singh reorganized his priorities once he encountered Jesus. His mission in life was now different. He said "I am not worthy to follow in the steps of my Lord, but like Him, I want no home, no possessions. Like Him I will belong to the road, sharing the suffering of my people, eating with those who will give me shelter, and telling all people of the love of God."

Have you reorganized your priorities in life? Is Jesus the number one person in your life?

Quote: “My order of priorities reflects the level of my commitment to Christ. Whoever or whatever is in first place if it isn’t the Lord Jesus, is in the wrong place.” – Charles Swindoll

Prayer: Lord, help me to realize that putting You first is the most important thing in life. Help me to reorganize my life today. Amen