I am a Steward of my own Learning

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
~ Matthew 25:21, LEB ~

If our personal expectation is upon a given Church, Ministry or organization, pastor, lay minister, or fellow believers to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become disciples of Jesus Christ. To become devoted and endure valiantly to the end – then we are not becoming good stewards over our own means of learning and understanding. Such expectation is misplaced because it deflects our own personal responsibility and place it upon another. Instead, true and faithful committed discipleship begins when we take personal responsibility for what we are to learn and apply that to how we know we ought to live. No one individual or organization holds the responsibility for us to become who the Savior desires us to become for it is our own personal responsibility.

So, what does faithful stewardship over my own learning look like? To answer this question, we want to know what stewardship all is about. And it is to understand that it is a way of turning our lives around so that we are living in a manner that our personal desires, daily activities, values and goals for life, and the use of all that we possess are given over to our Heavenly Father’s will. It is the absolute surrender of our own personal self-interest unto our Heavenly Father so that we are able to become more Christ-centered in a way to live according to His purpose and will. We become faithful servants unto God, through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, to properly represent and manage all that He has entrusted us with.

Faithful stewardship of my own learning means that I am expressing my obedience regarding the administration of time granted unto me. Managing time to engage in the spiritual discipline of reading, studying, and applying spiritual truths to my own life is a step-in cultivating stewardship over my own learning. And it is the core essential discipline to all other spiritual disciplines.

Since discipleship, when we come unto Christ and follow Him, requires significant cost – we ought to consider the use of our time as a spiritual discipline. And how we spend our time determines how we have honored and glorified our Heavenly Father. Furthermore, discipleship is a personal spiritual journey to become like Christ, it also means that through Christ, we are perfected and become like our Heavenly Father. The more we grow spiritually, the more understanding received as to the purpose of being disciplined in the use of time God has given us is of great importance.

Stewardship of Time and Learning “Because the Days are Evil”

Writing to the Christians at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul remarks: Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). This admonition of Paul helps us understand that mindful and crucified Christian living requires wisdom in how we are to use the time we are granted. And it includes the time we have to seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6).

Therefore, the greatest stumbling block to develop a mindful, crucified, and spiritual discipline Christian life is the excuse of: “I just don’t have the time“. One does not have the time to devote to scripture study. One does not have the time to devote to contemplative and meditative prayer and fasting. No time for faithful service and ministry. And definitely no significant time to learn spiritual truths and values that have the means by which we are empowered to transform our lives.

Thus, when we become good stewardship of our time, and detach ourselves from whatever excuse that causes us to stumble, then we are able to fully commit ourselves to come unto Christ and follow Him.

Stewardship of Time and Learning is the Preparation for Eternity

Living a mindful and crucified Christian life through the implementation of the spiritual disciplines is not for this life alone. It is a means to prepare us for the eternity ahead. It is another layer of understanding Christ’s teaching that those individuals who shall find their lives may inevitably lose it. Whereas those who lose their lives for His sake shall find it (Matthew 16:25-27).

How we manage our life, utilize the time we have (since our life is short, passing, and uncertain), and develop those spiritual disciplines necessary to receive greater rewards of Heavenly value; determines how truly committed we are in following Christ.

What does it mean to take responsibility for our own personal learning? It means we become good stewards of our time in developing and faithfully engaging in those spiritual disciplines as a means by which we strive to live a mindful and crucified life unto Christ. It is our personal commitment and devotion.

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