1 Cor. 12:18 “But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body just as He pleased.”
In this short paper we will consider the plausibility of our stewardship from the Lord as being the good works which He has prepared for us to walk in.
This is carried out through our human spirit joined to the Lord’s Spirit; from where He has placed us in the body, these works which are called, eventually “the righteous acts of the saints.” Rev 19:8 These righteous acts produce the fine linen wedding garment stated in Revelation.
This is in no way a qualifying effort to gain entrance into so-called Heaven but is His Kingdom reward for faithful stewards and will be enjoyed during the one thousand year Millennial Kingdom.
Consider these Scriptures in this light.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Rev. 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Luk. 16:2 “So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
Luk. 16:3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.
Luk. 16:4 ‘I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’
1 Cor. 9:17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
Col. 1:25 Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God, which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
Gen. 43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.”
Gen. 43:19 When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
Gen. 44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.”
Gen. 44:4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?”
1Ki 16:9 Now his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah.
Isa. 22:15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “Go, proceed to this steward, To Shebna, who is over the house, and say.”
Dan. 1:11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan. 1:16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink and gave them vegetables.
Matt. 20:8 So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
Luk. 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
Luk. 12:42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
Luk. 16:1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.”
Luk. 16:2 “So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
Luk. 16:3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.
Luk. 16:8 “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are shrewder in their generation than the sons of light.
Tit. 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick- tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
Rev. 2:23 “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
1 Cor. 3:13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Matt. 20:8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
9 “And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
10 “But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
11 “And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, “saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
12 “But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
13 ‘Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
14 ‘Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
15 “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Luk. 12:42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
Matt. 25:26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27 ‘So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 ‘Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken
30 ‘And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Tit. 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick- tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
Summary
It appears that our stewardship will indeed be measured and either approved or rejected, with real consequences relating to rewards or loss of rewards in the Millennial Kingdom.
These, however, are not in any way related to the free gift of eternal life. We must see the distinction between gift and reward for faithful service, as a believer in the stewardship we have been given by Him.