steward represents his master. When the master is away, everybody
"There's not a lamb in all Your flock
I would disdain to feed."
Brethren, let us heartily love all whom Jesus loves. Cherish the
tried and suffering. Visit the fatherless and the widow. Care for the
faint and the feeble. Bear with the melancholy and despondent. Be
mindful of all parts of the household, and thus shall you be a good
steward.
8. I shall cease from this picture when I have said that the
steward represents his master. When the master is away, everybody
comes to the steward for orders. He had need to behave himself well
who represents such a Lord as ours. A steward should speak much
more carefully and wisely when he speaks for his lord than when he
speaks on his own account. Unless he is guarded in his utterances,
his lord may be forced to say to him, "You had better speak for
yourself: I cannot allow you thus to misrepresent me." My beloved
brethren and fellow-servants, the Lord Jesus is compromised by us if
we do not keep His way, declare His truth, and manifest His spirit
Men infer the Master from the servant; are they not to be excused if
they so do? Ought not the steward to act after his master's manner?
You cannot dissociate the squire from the steward, the Lord from His
representative. A Puritan was told that he was too precise; but he
replied, "I serve a precise God." We should be gentle, for we
represent the gentle Jesus. We should be zealous, for we represent
One who was clad with zeal as with a cloak. Our best guide, when we
are uncertain as to what to do, will be found in the answer to the
question, "What would Jesus do?" When deliberating about going to
a place of amusement, you may end the deliberation by saying, "I will
go if my Master would have gone." If moved to speak with warmth,
take heed that it is only such warmth as your Lord would have
exhibited.
If urged to utter your own thoughts rather than revealed truth,
follow Jesus, who spoke not His own thoughts, but those of the
Father. In this way, you will be acting as a steward should do. Here
lies your wisdom, your comfort, and your strength. It was a sufficient
vindication for a steward, when one accused him of folly, that he
could reply, "Say what you please of what I did, for therein I followed
my master's orders." Caviler, do not blame the steward. The man has
done according to the command of his superior; what else would you
have him do? Our conscience is clear, and our heart is restful, when
we feel that we have taken up our cross, and have followed the
footprints of the Crucified One. Wisdom is justified of her children. If
not today, yet in the long run, it shall be seen that obedience is better
than originality, and teachableness is more to be desired than genius.
The revelation of Jesus Christ will outlive the speculation of man. We
are content, nay, anxious, not to be regarded as original thinkers and
original doers; we wish to make known the thoughts of God, and
finish the work which He works in us mightily.