Steward :: to manage or look after another's property

Are you being a good steward with  all that God has blessed you with? 

Some want a new house; do you take care of the house that you have already been blessed with?  Some want a new car; does your car look as if a garbage truck pulled up and dumped a load of garbage in it? 

steward ::  to manage or look after another’s property

Everything that we have in this life we have because the Lord has allowed us to have it.  Everything in this world is His. Colossians 1:16, John 1:3  We are simply managing it…or being a steward of it.

How many times have we, ourselves, told our children that until they take care of what we’ve given them, we won’t give them more?  It the same with our Heavenly Father. Take care of what God has given you.  Don’t squander your money on frivolous things.  Are you helping to take care of the poor?  Deuteronomy 15:11, Proverbs 29:7, Proverbs 14:31

If He’s allowed you to run a business, run it to the best of your abilities.  If He’s allowed you a car, take care of it…whether it’s a new car or new to you.  Our attitude about how we steward things will show in the way we take care of whatever it is the Lord has allowed us to have.  If your car, house or yard is a pit, maybe you don’t really value what the Lord has given to you.  How can you expect to be given more?  Joel Osteen told of places that he has visited in Africa.  They were only huts that people lived in…unlike the homes that we live in…which could be considered mansions to someone living in a hut.  Anyway, he said that even though they had floors of dirt, the places were spotless. 

Take care of what the Lord has allowed you to steward no matter how old or how new, small or large it is.  Our Father in Heaven truly wants to bless us.  Be a good steward.

Remember it...use it...believe it!

Yesterday, I was chatting with a friend about dogs and a specific memory came to my mind about an incident that I had with a seemingly unruly dog.

Years ago I was in Oklahoma visiting my husband’s parents when I decided to go for a run.  I got a couple of miles down the country road and decided to head back.  I was still quite a way from their home when suddenly a Rottweiler came running towards me and it was foaming at the mouth.  I have to tell you I’m not a fan of that particular breed of dog because of the stories that I’ve heard…stories that were similar to the situation I found myself to be right in the middle of at that moment.  Instantly I was frightened.  I didn’t think.  I simply acted out of instinct.  In fact, I found myself to be surprised at my own reaction.  I yelled at the dog, “Stop in the name of Jesus!  Go home!”  The dog stopped and looked stunned.  He looked at me for a few moments as if to reason out the situation and then turned around and headed back up his driveway.  I watched him cautiously until I felt safe to continue on and headed back to the house without incident. 

The name of Jesus is so very powerful!  Matthew 28:18-20 speaks about how Jesus was given all authority in Heaven and Earth and when we accept Him as our Savior, we are in Him and He is in us, we have the authority in His name.  In Colossians 1:12-14, (See also 2 Corinthians 5:21) Paul speaks of how Jesus has enabled us to share in His inheritance.  We are co-heirs with Christ.  So not only do we have the authority to go through all the Earth and make disciples for Jesus, we also have the authority against evil and the powers of darkness as well as others that I won’t go into now.   

Now, I’m not trying to say that this dog is evil.  I am, however, sure that this dog wanted to cause me harm.  I used the authority that I have in Jesus’ name to protect myself from harm.  Because I believe it and spoke in Jesus’ name, that dog obeyed.  I’m grateful that I not only knew that, but was also able to apply it to my situation.

Remember as a follower of Christ, the authority you have in His name. Remember it…believe it…use it!  He will never fail you. 

Testing and Trials

It’s when we follow God’s leading to do the unpopular thing that we not only find out who we are, but we find out who our true friends are.

Last year in October, I was praying…asking the Lord where I could volunteer.  Much to my surprise he led me to get a job at Sam’s Club.  I can tell you I was very surprised.  I wasn’t looking for a paying job, but at the same time I knew that I needed to be obedient.  The next day while doing some shopping there, I said to the Lord, “If this is truly where You want me to be, I pray that I will see my friend and that not only will she say hello, but that she’ll greet me with a hug.”  Now this friend of mine does work there, but very rarely did I ever see her.  Literally within 5 minutes of me saying that prayer, she walked by me, said hello and greeted me with a hug!  I had no excuse to keep me from getting a job there.  I can tell you this, working as a cashier at Sam’s Club was not something that was on my bucket list…not because I think I’m above that job, because I’m not.  It just wasn’t something that I thought was in my future.  God is full of surprises!  J

Everything laid aside, I plunged into work there with the idea that working through the holiday season would be it for me…although I did keep my mind open to all possibilities of the Lord’s will. 

Working there, to me, was a great opportunity for allowing the love of God to be seen in me.  My hope is that’s what they saw!  But not only that, it was a time for me to learn to be content with where the Lord had me at that moment.  Let me tell you, although I passed many of the tests, I don’t believe that I passed every test in that area…just sayin’!!  It allowed me to see things in myself that I needed to change and that’s a good thing. But, interestingly…it allowed me to see who my true friends were as well.  I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to realize that some folks didn’t really want to associate with me while I was in my “cashier” role.  Hmmm…interesting…I’ll leave it at that.

When you find yourself in a place where the Lord is testing and growing you, know that He is doing it for your own good.  He can and will refine us and teach us through the process…that is, if we allow Him to.  He is faithful and wants only the best for us.  Trust Him…He is so very faithful!                    

Be a cheerful giver!

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

Many years ago I was mentoring someone who was having all sorts of difficulty in their life.  This person was a Christian and struggling in many areas, finances being one of them.  I helped them to get a schedule for their bills lined up with their pay periods, taught them how to balance their checking account and encouraged them to keep up with it. 

As we were working through all of these things, suddenly this person angrily blurted out that they were tithing and they were sick of tithing because they weren’t seeing a dime of increase from their giving.  I was shocked!  At that point I asked a few questions and then went on to tell them that they might as well stop giving anything.  They looked at me very perplexed.  I went on to explain that God wants us to be cheerful in our giving.  If we cannot do what He has asked us to do with a cheerful heart, we may as well not do it at all. 

In the Old Testament (Malachi 3:6-12), God commands us to give the first ten percent of our gain to the storehouse.  But, the New Testament doesn’t give a specific amount to give.  One example that Jesus used is of the widow giving two mites in Mark 12:41-44.  Even though she had given less than those who were wealthy, she had given all that she had and given it cheerfully and without show.  I believe that Jesus wants us to give with a cheerful heart.  If we give what we have purposed in our heart, but do it grudgingly, we’re not giving freely or with a cheerful heart.  Cheerful obedience is the key.

God doesn’t need our money or things.  Everything in this world is His.  What we have in our personal possession are things that God allows us to have.  It’s our job to be good stewards of what he has allowed in our possession.  Be generous with your time, things, finances, etc.  I remember a time when I felt like the Lord was challenging me to be more generous with my time.  It’s not just finances that we should be generous with.  It’s our lives we should be generous with.  I see myself as being nothing without Jesus Christ.  All I have, all I am I owe to Him and I can never repay Him for His generosity towards me. 

I encourage us all to be generous givers of all that we have to offer…and to be cheerful givers.  That’s what the Lord asks of us.     

To Love Unconditionally Does Not Mean...

To love unconditionally does not mean to agree unreservedly.

What comes to mind immediately for me is just how much God loves me unconditionally…but He loves me…not my sin. (Romans 5:8)  Because He loves me so much, He won’t leave me that way.  He shows me my sin through His word and the Holy Spirit and gives me a way to overcome it through repentance and the blood of Jesus.  He loves me but He doesn’t agree with everything that I do, think or speak…and He lets me know where I falter.   

So often in our relationships, many believe that because we love them that we must agree with everything that they do, think or speak. You see, living life that way would not be living a life that is true to the Word of God.

In John 8:1-11 while Jesus was teaching at the Temple, the Pharisees and teachers of the religious law brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery to Him and wanted to stone her. Jesus told them that any of them who had not sinned to go ahead and cast the first stone.  One by one they dropped their stones and left.  But Jesus, who had no sin, didn’t stone her.  He told her to go and sin no more.

In this situation, Jesus not only pointed out to the woman that she should not sin anymore, He pointed out to the scribes and Pharisees that they were doing something wrong as well.  Because He didn’t agree with those folks…whom He loved…didn’t mean that He had to agree with everything that they did…and…so it is with us.  We, as Christ followers, must learn to love those around us.  But, loving others unconditionally doesn’t mean that we have to agree with everything that others do, think or speak.  We need to learn to stand firm in what God’s word says which means that we must speak the truth in love.  We must have a backbone, but not beat folks up!  God would be doing us a disservice if He didn’t show us where we sin and call us to repent.  Why would we need God if He didn’t call us to a higher place with Him?  If we didn’t need Him, then that means that Jesus would have given His life for nothing!  Oh how we need Jesus!

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 

I encourage you to love others unconditionally as God loves us, but stand firm in what God’s word says about sin.  Just because we love others doesn’t mean we must agree with them unreservedly.    

...serving God as a way to become prosperous...

Fifteen plus years ago I was at a church that began to heavily preach the “prosperity gospel.”  I had been at this church for a year or so and up until then, had been pleased with what was being taught.

I played the guitar on the worship team and when the music part was over, we would sit out in the congregation to listen to the message.  It seemed that every week I would end up sitting next to a person whose body odor nearly gagged me.  I don’t mean to be gross, but my nose is hyper sensitive…and well…let’s just leave it at that!  J I had been acquainted with this person for a while and actually was quite surprised by this.  It wasn’t normal for her.  I was concerned so I asked around to see if anyone knew what had caused this change with her.  Well, much to my surprise, I found out she had fast growing cataracts on her eyes and was suddenly legally blind.  The blindness caused her to lose her job.  She could no longer drive, read, work, etc.  Her life was changed drastically in a matter of a few months.  She was a single mom.  The only money that she was receiving was $350 a month and her rent was $300 a month.  Needless to say, life had become ultra challenging for her. 

I just couldn’t stand back and do nothing.  I decided to talk to the pastor about helping her out.  Since money had become the topic of most of the teachings, I really believed that I wouldn’t have any trouble getting help.  Wow…as a young Christian…I was sorely mistaken!  I won’t go into the sordid details.  Looking back, it was a wonderful learning time for me as far as learning what and what not to do in situations like this.  Some of the women and I did what we could to help her.  The Lord led us and we saw wonderful things take place for this lady.  I’m not sure who was blessed more us or the lady and her daughter. 

I learned at a very young “Christian” age that being a Christian is about serving God through serving others.  Yes, God does prosper us in many different ways which does happen to include finances.  There’s no getting around it.  But “serving God” as a way to become prosperous is not what God intends for us.  Matthew 6:33 states; Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. (See also 1Timothy 6:3-6) As Christians, no matter what our financial status may be, we are wealthy because Jesus is the greatest treasure we could ever attain!  

Be sensitive to the needs of others.  We’re here to serve others, not ourselves.  Be alert to those around you whether strangers, friends or family.  You never know who God may bring across your path that may need the help that only you can give.            
          

I'm but a pilgrim...

 ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.  1 John 2:15-17  

I don’t want to be content in this world.  This world is not my home.  I’m but a pilgrim passing through.  When I surrendered my life to Jesus…accepted Him as my Savior…I became a citizen of Heaven.

Life here on earth is not about seeing how much wealth we can amass, how many different places we can vacation to or a competition on how large a house we can own, etc.  It’s about living a life that pleases God…allowing Him to refine us through the journey.  It’s about telling others about the love of God.  His love is so deep, so wide, so powerful and all encompassing that He gave His own Son that we might be saved. ( See John 3:16 ) It’s God’s greatest desire that all would be saved. (See 1 Timothy 2:1-4)  Our purpose is to allow God to flow through us so that the lost in the world will be reached…whatever way God chooses to do so. 

Many years ago I had a conversation with someone and I was talking about going to Heaven and looking forward to Jesus’ return.  This person said that they weren’t looking forward to that time because there were things that they wanted their children to experience here on earth.  REALLY?!?  Even now, years later, I am dumbfounded by that statement.  I am convinced that this is exactly one of the reasons why the Church here in the States is not being as effective as it could be.  There’s too much love of the world…period!! 

Keep your eyes on the prize.  Jesus is the ultimate prize!  There is nothing in this world that can trump being in Heaven with Him!  Don’t allow yourself to grow cold in your love for the Lord.  Don’t be content with the things of this world.  If you are a follower of Christ, your home is Heaven.  Remember…you’re but a pilgrim in this world.  Let your light...the Light of God...shine through you for all the world to see!