NOVEMBER 15, 1 Corinthians 4:2

“We’re going to talk about stewardship today,” Jeffrey’s Sunday School teacher announced. “A steward is someone who helps take care of things for someone else. God asks us to be good stewards for Him, so we’re going to do a class project to give you one way to do that.”

Brother Martin held up a piece of paper. “I’ll pass around this list of older people from church who need some help with their houses.” Jeffrey looked over the list of names. “I could help Mrs. Koong,” he offered. “She lives near me.”

The sweet old lady was pleased to have Jeffrey’s help. She asked him to sweep the floor because she could not do it properly anymore. “Sure. You can count on me,” Jeffrey told her. “I’ll do it every week.” And for a few weeks, he faithfully kept his promise, but soon, he began to forget. There were other things to do.

“Hey, Dad, come see what I can make my train do,” said Jeffrey when his father arrived home one afternoon. He placed two engines on the track several feet apart and pushed some buttons. The engines raced around the track. Then, Jeffrey flipped a switch, and one engine ran onto a side track and stopped while the other one continued down the main track. “Did you see that, Dad? I sidetracked the one and kept the other one going,” explained Jeffrey.

Dad nodded. “I see that,” he said. He looked thoughtfully at the sidetracked engine. “It occurs to me that some Christians get sidetracked like that engine. In fact, I wonder if you’re like that right now, Jeffrey.” Jeffrey looked up. “Me? How’s that?” he asked.

“Well, you said you’d help Mrs. Koong every week,” replied Dad, “but I think you’ve been forgetting to do it lately. Or maybe you’ve been too interested in other things. In any case, I think you got sidetracked.”

“Uh oh! I did forget!” exclaimed Jeffrey. He looked at the two engines. “If I hurry, I can still get to her place and help her!” he said as he headed for the door. “I want to be like the engine that kept going.”

Thought: Have you begun to serve the Lord by tithing, helping a needy person, or cheerfully working at home? Have you kept at it?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to press on and serve You in whichever capacity You have led me to. Help me to keep at it, to press on, for in this way I can be faithful. May I learn from Jesus, who was faithful to the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen