Are You a Good Steward? What are your thoughts on ownership? Would you say it goes along the thought of what's mine is mine? It's my time, my vehicle, my money.
Have you ever considered yourself a steward; a steward of life? In Webster's online dictionary stewardship is defined as "someone who manages the financial affairs or property of others; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others".
Psalm 24:1 states that "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
" "...
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you for the world is mine, and all that is in it" Psalm 50:10-12.
So if God is the Creator, Ruler, Lord, and Owner of all things in heaven and earth, who are we? What do we own? Nothing, we are just stewards.
And we are to manage whatever resources, things, possessions he has blessed us with.
When most people think of stewardship they think of money, wealth, and property.
But there are many more things God has placed us, his children, over as stewards.
We are stewards over: Children The planet Gifts and Talents Household Goods (automobile, home, etc.
) House of Worship Money Lives of individuals we have an impact on Time Are you taking care of the resources God has entrusted to you? Are you serving him by doing what is right and honorable? 1 Corinthians 4:2 tells us that we must be faithful in all that we do.
God has given us (man) dominion over the earth.
As stewards we are to watch over, protect and manage God's property.
Children: As parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and mentors, it is our responsibility to give them Godly and wise counsel.
To "train up the child in the way they should go" so that "when they get older they will not depart" from your teachings.
They may not always obey but hopefully they are listening.
Personal Belongings: You would like to have a home of your own one day.
Have you been keeping your rental apartment or home in good condition? Holes in the wall; stains and spills on the carpet? Do you have the attitude that it's not your place, so you'll just have them take it out of your deposit? Well, God cannot and will not bless you with your own, if you do not learn how to take care of someone else's first.
Work: You would like to have a raise.
Better yet a new job.
You're tired of one you have.
They are getting on your nerves anyway! However, you're late every morning and coming back from lunch.
You're on social networking sites when you should be doing those charts.
Your hearts desire will be a long time coming until you change your thought and behavior process.
Remember "whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men...
it is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24).
Gifts and Talents: God has gifted you with a voice to sing, speak, and teach.
Hands to build, guide, instruct and direct.
A mind to analyze, create, comprehend.
Yet, you still sit there day after day, month after month not using them to the ability you know you are capable of.
Why? He gifted you with these things.
God wanted you to have them.
No one else can do it like you can.
Do you not realize he graced you with them so He can get the glory out of it? Money: Yes, we would all like to have more of it.
But are you faithful in the little, or lot, you currently have? What are you doing with the $0.
90 of every dollar you make? How are you spending it? Are you being a good steward over it? God cannot bless you with more until he sees and knows, you can be entrusted with what he first gave you.
What happens when we are not good stewards? God may remove the things in which we are not faithful with/in from our lives.
Luke 16:1-2 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.
' Would you want that to happen to you? Would you want God to remove money, possessions, time, gifts and talents from your life? In Matthew 25:14-28 you'll find the Parable of the Talents.
The master going away and entrusting a sum of money (talent) to each of his servants.
One servant received one, another five and yet another two.
The two and five talent servants used theirs and increased their master's property.
The one talent servant didn't do anything with his.
His talent removed and he was cast into the streets.
Here are few things to remember: God will reward his children's faithfulness regardless of the amount over which they were responsible.
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust true riches to you? Now that you are aware of God's desire for you to be a better steward, in all things, how do you plan on applying this principle to your life?
Have you ever considered yourself a steward; a steward of life? In Webster's online dictionary stewardship is defined as "someone who manages the financial affairs or property of others; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others".
Psalm 24:1 states that "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
" "...
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
If I were hungry I would not tell you for the world is mine, and all that is in it" Psalm 50:10-12.
So if God is the Creator, Ruler, Lord, and Owner of all things in heaven and earth, who are we? What do we own? Nothing, we are just stewards.
And we are to manage whatever resources, things, possessions he has blessed us with.
When most people think of stewardship they think of money, wealth, and property.
But there are many more things God has placed us, his children, over as stewards.
We are stewards over: Children The planet Gifts and Talents Household Goods (automobile, home, etc.
) House of Worship Money Lives of individuals we have an impact on Time Are you taking care of the resources God has entrusted to you? Are you serving him by doing what is right and honorable? 1 Corinthians 4:2 tells us that we must be faithful in all that we do.
God has given us (man) dominion over the earth.
As stewards we are to watch over, protect and manage God's property.
Children: As parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and mentors, it is our responsibility to give them Godly and wise counsel.
To "train up the child in the way they should go" so that "when they get older they will not depart" from your teachings.
They may not always obey but hopefully they are listening.
Personal Belongings: You would like to have a home of your own one day.
Have you been keeping your rental apartment or home in good condition? Holes in the wall; stains and spills on the carpet? Do you have the attitude that it's not your place, so you'll just have them take it out of your deposit? Well, God cannot and will not bless you with your own, if you do not learn how to take care of someone else's first.
Work: You would like to have a raise.
Better yet a new job.
You're tired of one you have.
They are getting on your nerves anyway! However, you're late every morning and coming back from lunch.
You're on social networking sites when you should be doing those charts.
Your hearts desire will be a long time coming until you change your thought and behavior process.
Remember "whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men...
it is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24).
Gifts and Talents: God has gifted you with a voice to sing, speak, and teach.
Hands to build, guide, instruct and direct.
A mind to analyze, create, comprehend.
Yet, you still sit there day after day, month after month not using them to the ability you know you are capable of.
Why? He gifted you with these things.
God wanted you to have them.
No one else can do it like you can.
Do you not realize he graced you with them so He can get the glory out of it? Money: Yes, we would all like to have more of it.
But are you faithful in the little, or lot, you currently have? What are you doing with the $0.
90 of every dollar you make? How are you spending it? Are you being a good steward over it? God cannot bless you with more until he sees and knows, you can be entrusted with what he first gave you.
What happens when we are not good stewards? God may remove the things in which we are not faithful with/in from our lives.
Luke 16:1-2 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.
' Would you want that to happen to you? Would you want God to remove money, possessions, time, gifts and talents from your life? In Matthew 25:14-28 you'll find the Parable of the Talents.
The master going away and entrusting a sum of money (talent) to each of his servants.
One servant received one, another five and yet another two.
The two and five talent servants used theirs and increased their master's property.
The one talent servant didn't do anything with his.
His talent removed and he was cast into the streets.
Here are few things to remember: God will reward his children's faithfulness regardless of the amount over which they were responsible.
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust true riches to you? Now that you are aware of God's desire for you to be a better steward, in all things, how do you plan on applying this principle to your life?
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