First, get a good appraisal.

The Bible teaches us to be good stewards of what God has given us. To call this obvious is an understatement, and there are many things to which it applies.

We are to be good stewards of the environment, managing it well and keeping it for future generations. We are to be good stewards of our bodies, keeping them healthy and fit. We are to be good stewards of our money, earning, saving, and giving wisely. We are even told to be good stewards of our skills, developing and exercising them at every opportunity. And in truth, none of these are wrong. But they all miss the point.

If our task is to be praiseworthy handlers of the valuable things God has entrusted to our care, it makes sense to first ask what the most valuable such thing is. It’s not the world. It’s not our bodies. It’s not our money. And it’s not our abilities. It’s the knowledge of His Son.

So although these other things require our attention, if we are not good stewards of the Gospel, having impressive records on the others won’t impress God at all.