In Luke 6:38 we read, “Give, and it
will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap.” God gives you the ability to produce
wealth, you must see your opportunity and acknowledge that everything comes
from God.
Many think, “well,.. my situation is
financially trying as well and .. .. ..” AND for those of you who catch
yourself saying that, let me be the one to tell you. My family has been greatly
blessed by the stewardship of this community, especially our amazing church
family. Both have went above and beyond to help us through this past year of
trials and triumphs. Many of them, didn’t think twice about going to the
extreme to help us.
I am not saying the next time someone
cries on your shoulder, run to the bank and drain your savings with no
questions asked! I know that every dollar counts in a time when you have no
money and are not exactly sure where your next dollar is going to come from.
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God love a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
What I am trying to say is God will
put you in a position to be a steward and give! When the opportunity arises
give what you heart prompts you to give, give according to your ability and
honor God with wealth.
One thing that many don’t realize is
you must care for yourself in order to be ABLE to care for others. Whether that
be physically, mentally, or financially able—you need to have yourself together
before you try and put yourself in the position to be a successful steward.
There is no success if anyone suffers from your blessings, including yourself
(you know, the person we all seem to leave out).
Paul was like a father to his
protégé, Timothy. He was most concerned with Timothy looking after himself.
“Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and
your frequent illnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:23) With safe drinking water difficult
to find, Paul urged the young pastor to drink some wine to keep himself in
decent shape. He didn’t think that caring for our physical bodies was a waste
of time or a vanity. On the contrary, maintaining our physical health is an
important part of maintaining our spiritual health. Paul wanted to see Timothy
flourish, and in flourishing, to serve others more effectively.
How would you rate your job at taking care of yourself?
Does your level of rest or fitness
hold you back from anything God wants you to do?
What is the relationship between physical and spiritual health?
What are your natural talents? “Each
man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, and another has that.” (1
Corinthians 7:7) God gives skills and ability. (“God given talent”) Different
people are blessed with different gifts, do not neglect your gift. Utilize your
skills and ability to its’ full potential, reach for the skies!! What blessings has God given you? Say you got
a promotion at work, bought a new house or earned your PhD. God had blessed
you! Now what are you going to do with that blessing? God made David king so
that he could bless God’s people. God expects us to use what we’ve been given
to help others too. Why did God bless you? Perhaps you got a raise so you could
give more generously to a ministry. Perhaps he gave you a home so you could
welcome others into it. Only when you look beyond yourself will you be able to
see God’s greater purpose. “And David knew that the Lord had established him as
king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people
Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:12)
Based on how you spend your time, what would an outside observer conclude
your highest priorities are in life? Ask yourself, what are some realistic,
practical ways to make God your highest priority? As you get older, life gets
more complicated. Demands on your time and attention continue to mount, and
there’s never enough time or energy in the day to get everything accomplished,
right? Do you find yourself longing for a simpler life? When all is said and
done, the focus of your life should be to love God and love others. Do the
things that fill your heart, life and schedule reflect those priorities? By
discovering and focusing your energy on what God considers most important, you
begin to find clarity and purpose for each day of your life. What changes do
you need to make in how you spend your time? When considering my priorities I
like to focus on the unseen and consider loss for the sake of Christ. Always
remember, faith expressed through love is what counts.
“But godliness with
contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6
Closing this post a little differently... Here are some words to ponder... Things that have really stuck with me through my readings lately.
Encourage improvement in one's accountability. Romans 14:12 says, "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." We need to recognize God will judge the past, we are accountable for our words, and never forget that God sees everything!
For those who struggle with authority, Romans 13:1- "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." Keep in mind, God gave authority to humans and God gives authority to rulers.
I believe the secret in contentment is simply trusting in God! "Keep your eyes free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." -- Hebrews 13:5 ........ One needs to set proper priorities to succeed! ! !
Make the commitment! Do not grow weary of doing good! Serve wholeheartedly! Set a goal and dont quit until you reach it!!! Seek the counsel of many advisers, dont be afraid to ask! Give back whatever you owe and then some.
Remember, the love of money causes discontent and trouble. Prioritize, place God before everything and all your blessings will follow!
Have a blessed day! :)
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