The Importance of consistent personal responsibility (a/k/a "Stewardship")

A delightful blog piece from Hrvoje Sirovina. Here's some excerpts:

"...there are different areas of authority—authority over yourself, authority over finances, authority over demons, authority over sickness and disease, authority over regions or nations, and authority to overthrow the strong man of a nation....

...have a closer look at this parable: Later the master returned and asked what each servant had done with that mina. The first came to him and returned ten minas to him. Immediately the master increased the realm of authority of this servant. He said that he had been a good administrator and a good steward in his dimension of authority. Therefore, his realm of authority would now increase. He then received authority over ten cities! Please note that he did not have the authority over these cities from the beginning. They were a result of his faithfulness, his administration, and his commitment...

This servant could have declared Philippians 4:13 about himself for years: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” thinking and believing it would give him authority over his city. However, he would have misled himself, because he clearly did not have that authority yet. True authority over cities, regions, and nations is not gained by salvation; it is a result of faithful stewardship. God observes what we do with the realm of authority that has been assigned to us. We only receive more authority if we handle our given authority well. Increasing in authority clearly is a process!"