Asset Management

READ: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Stewardship is not synonymous with giving money. Why would it be? We have a veritable holy trinity of assets we can use to glorify God and love others: our time, our talent, and our treasure.

Time. I have twenty-four hours today; how about you? Same? I thought so. Though, according to Peter, it’s quickly running out. Be alert and of sober mind, so that you may pray. Practice hospitality to one another without grumbling. Remember that your time is a gift from God, given that you may glorify Him and love others.

Talent. Use whatever gift you have received to serve others. If you speak, speak as one who speaks the very words of God. Your actions and your words are who you are to the world. Be who God designed you to be: We are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God (1 Cor 6:19)? What a gift!

Treasure. It’s more than money: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt 6:21). The one who spoke the world into being does not need your money; He needs your love, for Himself and for His children. So, above all love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Let us render unto God what is God’s - our time, our talent, and our treasure, which all came from Him!

Chewing on God's Word

It is curious that this particular sermon series has become such a personally convicting piece. Especially considering all the time I have spent reading about Affluenza, discerning verses for the daily readings, and even putting the study guide together.

One would think I must have gleaned everything out of this topic there was for me to glean, but, each Sunday as I listened to the message shared by the preachers, I have gone home with a lot to think about. And even more for me to change about myself, my character and my actions.

Week one I discovered that my love of financial security is the root of evil in my heart. I put more trust in my 401K than in God. Week two I learned how important it is for me to flee from this distrust and to submit my security to the One who loves me most. Week three was another big one for me: generosity. When I am convicted to help someone, and I have the means to do this, I need to act. And I need to act anonymously (this is my duty, not necessarily yours) and with a generous spirit.

I am still chewing on week four - Stewardship. I heard a few things that spoke to my heart. I need to practice stewardship by recognizing all that I have and taking proper care of it all. Sometimes that means to share with others, sometimes it means to give it away. But always it means I must view my 'stuff' as just that, 'stuff' and to hold on loosely.

Colossians 3:23-24

Elite Athletes

Psalm 8

  

Two weeks ago a record number of Ohio State University football players were drafted by the National Football League. Each one is an elite athlete in his own right. Each one exceled at the top of the college level and those that know talent best, believe they will excel at the next level.

 

However, not everybody that plays football has that kind of talent. In fact, most people don’t. According to the NCAA website, of the total number of NCAA student athletes playing football, only 1.9% will play professionally. Basketball is even a smaller percentage.

 

These are not very good odds. In fact, for the majority of high school athletes, they could easily feel intimidated and overwhelmed. They could feel like a miniscule nobody in an eternal universe of stars.

 

^3 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”             NIV

 

One of the life lessons of being on a sports team is that every player contributes; from the starters to the last player on the bench. The same is true for us as believers in Christ. Every person has an important role to play. Every person has God given talents that they are to use to share and build the Kingdom of God.

 

^5 “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. ⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: ⁷ all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, ⁸ the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”    NIV

 

Because God has created us in His image, we hold a position of great honor. He has called us to serve Him with authority and responsibility.

 

In the Parable of the talents, Jesus tells the story about the master who gave talents to his three servants while he was away. To the two who invested their talents, the master responded by saying, ²³ “Well done, good and faithful servant!” But to the third servant who hid his talent he said, ²⁶ “You wicked, lazy servant.”        

 

In the world of following God, we are all elite athletes as long as we use the talents He has given us. Will you be a responsible steward of your time, talent and treasures? Will the Lord say to you on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?

 

 

 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%208&version=NIV;NLV

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.8

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Giving -- 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

As a young girl growing up, I had this wonderful relationship with my grandparents.  I never doubted their love for me. Often they would take me shopping for school supplies or take me out to dinner with them.  I knew they cared for me, and their generosity was part of the proof.  They were not rich, but they shared what they had.  Not only their possessions, but their time.  They were like two yellow roses in a sea of despair.

Grandma and Grandpa would lavish me with attention, not spoiling me, but caring for me. As an adult, I can appreciate all the sacrifices they made to dote on me in this manner.  Their example of unconditional love has helped to shape me today.  It is important to have examples to follow; it is good to have someone who will set the bar high so that we have to stretch in order to follow the model laid out for us.

Paul is teaching the people of Corinth a lesson in love when he tells them about the experience he had in Macedonia.  He shared about the life of poverty and hardships the Macedonians lived yet they were so very generous.  He said (2 Corinthians 8:2) because they recognized their salvation and lived in the Joy of that salvation, "their over-flowing joy...welled up in rich generosity."

Giving is a natural response to Christian love.  The Macedonians understood the word stewardship and recognized all they had was God's.  I long for that type of sincere love too.

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