To be a Good Steward
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
A steward is one, who under the owner, manages part of the house, or property.
As Christians we are to be good stewards, and administer or manage our part of the household of God….our gifts, those we are responsible to teach, encourage, or pray for.
We are going to consider a “good steward” of Abraham.
Genesis 24:2-4 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”
Abraham was old, and weakened, so that he could not go out and do the things he had before.
Sarah, his wife, was dead. Now Abraham begins to consider a wife, for Isaac.
Abraham was not to return to his land,…..so he calls for his trusted steward, and makes him swear (put your hand under my thigh),….that he will go and see about a wife for Isaac,…..from his family in Mesopotamia.
There is some question about whether the steward was to take Issac to Mesopotamia again…….
…..No, this is the land the Lord gave me after He brought me out of my homeland;……so do not take Isaac back.
And if the woman is unwilling to come……then the steward would be free from this oath.
Abraham gives a promise to the steward: “He (the Lord) shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”
So this steward sets out with ten camels laden with goods from Abraham, to give as presents to the family of the woman who would come.
(First to notice, that this steward did all this effort for someone else: his Master’s son…..not for himself.
And aren’t we to be faithful servants for our Master’s Son, Jesus Christ?)
How long this journey was, it does not say….but the steward arrives at Nahor in Mesopotamia….in the evening……” the time that women go out to draw water.”
He makes his camels kneel down by the city well,…..and waits
And he prays…
Genesis 24:12-14 “And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.
Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink,
and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also:
let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”
(How this shows us the spiritual witness Abraham was on his household and servants: each knew God,…..and what God could do…..because of him.
Abraham wasn’t just a good man…..but a Godly man.)
Before the steward was finished praying, Rebekah, who was of Abraham’s family came to the well, with a pitcher, to draw water.
Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”
She not only gave him a drink, but as he prayed,….she watered his camels, as well.
He was cautious, and waited till she was done, and then asked: “Whose daughter art thou?” Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?
As soon as he heard who she was, and who her family was:
Genesis 24:26-27 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.
And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth:
I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
(Abraham had been promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance….not to him but to “his seed”. Without a proper wife for Isaac, this promise would not be fulfilled.
So the steward praised God for His mercy…..not to him…..but to Abraham.
And praised God for the truth of His promise….that an angel would go before him and lead his way.)
Rebekah goes home, and her brother comes and leads the steward and the camels to their house…..for a steward from their relative Abraham, was come!
How exciting.
Then the steward tells the business of his journey, and how the promise was fulfilled concerning the Lord’s guidance; and how his prayer had been answered…..
…and he asks:
Would Rebekah come? Would she leave her family, and come and be Isaac’s wife?
The family gave permission…..but when they wanted her to stay for at least ten days….the steward said:
Genesis 24:56 “And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.”
(Part of our business as stewards of the gospel, is to deal with hinderances. To not be persuaded to “put off” till tomorrow, what should be done today.)
Rebekah is called, and she agrees to go….right away. “I will go”
(When speaking about our Master, and the gospel He gave us to tell…..we need to know that often,….delay is hinderance. “He commands all men everywhere to repent.” “Today, if you will hear His voice.”)
Genesis 24:61, 63, 66-67 “And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
And Issac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
And Isaac brought her into her mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
This is a story of a good steward…..working not for himself, or his family,…but for his mater, and his master’s son.
(This man is never named…..I believe it is because he illustrates all “good stewards”.
Those, that fulfill their duty,…..out of love and honor for their Master,….down through the ages…….which should include us)
It is a story of fulfilled promises….and promises that were to be fulfilled later, because of the obedience of the steward.
[Abraham’s children did obtain the promise of the Land….and Abraham’s Seed….Christ. Galatians 3:8-9,14,16. Came from this line.]
Yet, we too, have stories like this. We too, have been sent to deliver and bring home to our Master, God,….and His Son, Jesus Christ….those that will belong to the Church (the bride of Christ. Revelation 19:7-8)
As with Rebekah;……if they will not come,…..we are free of our duty….we have done what we could.
Like this steward of Abraham,……we need to follow the Lord’s guidance,….pray for blessing,….and deal with any hinderances,…..that we might fulfill our duty to our Master, and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 