stewardSHIP

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
increase:  so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses
shall burst out with new wine.—Proverbs 3:9, 10 KJV


though he is blessed who gives out of his plenty,
twice blessed is he who gives when he is empty,
for stewardship sails on an open ocean
to rescue him whose lack lacks no devotion.
 
born naked, your bare self is still your substance—
will you draw breath and yet exhale reluctance?
will you deprive wild trees of needed carbon,
and fail to honour thus Him by Whose pardon
 
death’s stewardship lacks substance, Whom the firstfruits
of all increase is due, of branch and deep roots?
twice blessed is he who gives when he is empty,
whose few, in love, fetches more worth than plenty.
 
the king who rules his throne with deep controversy,
the judge in his high chair who shows no mercy,
the rich man, proud of heart, who slights the hungry    
—a day of reck’ning comes for all and sundry.      
 
fill, then, your barns by emptying of your mercies.
unending wine shall swell your vintage purses;
the little over which you are caretaker
is much, engaged in service to your Maker.
 
© Copyright 2021 February 06  
by Clyve A. Bowen♫