How Are You Doing As a Custodian of Faith?

We are all the custodian of something.

I was working as a substitute teacher last week and we had the fourth graders out on the playground. I had my eyes on the kids on the swings when some commotion on the basketball court caught my attention. Apparently, some wasps had made a nest inside the basketball goal. When the basketball was thrown into the hoop, a few came out. What do you think happened next? Do you think those children ran away in fear?

Nope, they continued to throw the ball at the hoop and created a swarm. After I scolded them and moved them all far away from the swarm, I told another teacher and she radioed the office. A few short minutes later, the custodian arrived. He’s an older gentleman who has worked at the school for many years.

I pointed out the problem to him and he said he would get some spray. When I told him the wasps would likely be hard to get to, he didn’t bat an eye when he told me he would get a ladder. This man was willing to get inches away from stinging wasps to keep the children safe. I then watched him cross the playground and fix a hole in the fence, again keeping the kids safe. He obviously takes his job very seriously.

When we think of custodians, we often think of janitors, people who clean up messes. But, when I looked up the definition for custodian, the first one was: a person who has responsibility for or looks after something. The synonyms were: keeper, guardian, steward and protector. This man clearly was way more than a janitor; he was a custodian.

Then I began to think about all of the things in our daily lives that we are the custodians of, from our homes and cars to our marital relationships and friendships. We are certainly the custodians of our children and pets and sometimes our parents. I think for the most part, we take these physical jobs fairly seriously. We make dinner and keep doctor appointments. We lend a hand or an ear when a friend needs us.

But, how do we do with our faith. Do we consider ourselves custodians of our faith. Do we protect it and guard it? Are we good stewards? When someone in our church stirs up a wasp nest, are we willing to get a ladder and get close, to get it taken care of permanently or do we run away?

How about out in our communities, when something gets stirred up regarding our faith, do we stand fast or do we duck out heads and walk away? How about in our country or in the world at large? How are we as Christians, doing as custodians of our faith? What sort of message are we sending the world about what we believe and is it a message that Jesus would be proud of?

Luke 12:48 tells us that, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

I don’t know about you, but I definitely fall into that category. I think I need to give some thought and prayer on being a better custodian to all that has been entrusted to me. What do you think? How are you doing?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂