A Prayer to Wisely Steward Our Resources - Your Daily Prayer - July 28

A Prayer to Wisely Steward Our Resources
By Sophia Bricker

Bible Reading:
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”  “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, ‘’Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (Luke 3:8-11, NIV).

Listen or Read Below:

I frowned at the expiration date printed on the package. There were only four eggs left, which meant my family had eaten most of the dozen. But I still looked at the remaining shapes in the package, thinking of how they could have been used in a meal.  

“Waste not, want not” is an old saying that has become somewhat of a cliché. But I could not help thinking of what my grandmother and mother used to say while I tossed the expired eggs into the trash. Usually, I make it a habit to utilize what we have, knowing how difficult it can be to have enough. This time, the date had crept up on me. Images of families in my town and around the world flashed in my mind. So many people on earth––individuals who are made in God’s image––struggle to obtain sufficient food, and yet, here I was throwing away surplus that had expired. Guilt nagged me as I cooked dinner.

Scripture tells us that those who have more than enough have a responsibility to share what they have with those in need. John the Baptist included this instruction when he addressed the crowds who came to him seeking baptism. True repentance leads to transformation in character and, in effect, action. The Lord had already revealed this principle to His people Israel, such as in the command to love one’s neighbor (Leviticus 19:18). Not taking a person’s cloak as a pledge or refraining from harvesting a field a second time were practical applications of this command (Exodus 22:26-27; Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22) .    

Likewise, in the early church, Christ-followers regularly used their resources to bless those around them. They shared what they had with those in need (Acts 2:45). Such generosity came from the Holy Spirit’s work as He produced the spiritual fruit of love and kindness in their lives. Since they had been washed and made new by the Spirit, the priorities of their lives looked different from what they had been before they knew Jesus. They had been transformed.

For Christ followers today, the same call remains. We are to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV). Wisely using what we have to help others is a natural overflow of our relationship with the Lord. We will care for the poor and feed the hungry as if we were directly caring for our Savior (see Matthew 25:34-40).  

So, let us give thanks for the resources we have, whether great or small. And if we already have enough to meet our basic needs, let us not waste what we have, but rather find ways to share with others. In so doing, we honor the One who has given us more than we could ever imagine or deserve.  

Let’s pray:

Lord, forgive me for the times I have wasted my resources. I live in a society that values gaining more, and often more than I need, while at the same time promoting wastefulness. As I lean into my relationship with You, help me to reorient my priorities around what You care about: justice, mercy, compassion, love, and kindness. Produce in me by Your Holy Spirit the actions that come from faith.  

Let me live with contentment, being thankful for the necessities You provide. Let me live with open hands and an open heart so that I am quick to think of others when I utilize my resources. Guide me to how I might give from any area of surplus to bless those in need. And in every circumstance, may I care for others as if I were directly serving You, my Savior. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Kate Remmer

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site  Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.

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