“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
—Luke 16:10-12

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up… let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
—Galatians 6:9-10

~~~~~

Still, We Give
by Jennifer A. Kane

Stewardship is not ownership—
it is sacred trust,
a breath of heaven placed
into human hands.

We hold it—money, time,
homes and hearts,
relationships and rare gifts—
not as ours,
but as His.

We open the door.
We pass the keys.
We welcome others in,
believing love will be enough
to protect what matters.

But sometimes—
they break it.
They stain the walls with selfishness,
drag mud across our mercy,
and leave
without even a goodbye.

We are left with more than shattered things.
We are left
with the ache.
With the urge to lock up our kindness
and throw away the spare key.

Never again,
we whisper.
As if silence can shield us.
As if retreat is safer
than risk.

But then—
we remember Him.

Jesus,
who gave with open hands,
knowing betrayal would kiss Him.
Who fed the ungrateful,
healed the indifferent,
washed the feet of a denier.

Still, He gave.
Still, He poured.

And still, He calls us—
not to naïveté,
but to a higher grace.

To guard with wisdom,
yet love with courage.
To give again,
when it would be easier not to.
To trust Him
with what is His—
even when it breaks
our hearts.

~~~~~

Scripture: Luke 16:10-12

Stewardship is not just about money—it’s about how we treat anything that belongs to another, including property, relationships, responsibilities, and opportunities. God holds each of us accountable for how we handle what is entrusted to us, whether it’s ours or borrowed from someone else. Jesus spoke plainly: faithfulness in small things is a measure of our character.

But what happens when someone breaks that trust? What do we do when we’ve extended grace—shared our family’s property, our space, or our resources—and the result is hurt, loss, and even disrespect?

It stings. Especially when there’s no apology, no acknowledgment of the damage. That kind of betrayal can shake your trust not just in people—but in your own judgment, and even in the wisdom of being generous again.

And yet, Jesus understands betrayal. He lent Judas a seat at the table. He let Peter hold the keys, even knowing he’d deny Him. Still, He never stopped being a faithful steward of God’s mission.

So what do we do?

1. Mourn the Loss. It’s okay to grieve what was damaged—both the property and the relationship. God does not ask us to deny pain. Lament honestly, like David did in the Psalms.

2. Set Healthy Boundaries. Forgiveness doesn’t mean enabling carelessness. Jesus forgave but didn’t always entrust Himself to people (John 2:24). It’s godly to reevaluate who we allow to steward what matters to us.

3. Ask God to Search Your Heart. Disappointment can fester into bitterness. Ask God to protect your heart and teach you discernment for the future. “Create in me a clean heart, O God…” (Psalm 51:10).

4. Keep Trusting the Ultimate Steward. When others fail, remember this: nothing truly belongs to us—it all belongs to God. He sees every wrong and promises restoration, whether now or in eternity. He is always a faithful steward of His people’s lives.

~~~~~

Father God, You are the faithful One, the true and perfect Steward. I gave what I had in good faith, and it was mishandled—and that hurts. Help me process this pain with honesty and grace. Teach me to forgive wisely, to protect without hardening, and to trust You above all. Guard my heart, Lord, and restore what was damaged in Your time and Your way. Let me continue to walk in generosity without fear, guided by Your Spirit. In Jesus name, amen.

April 14 2025