There's another parable in Luke 16 that also gives us some important insights into effective Stewardship.
We see in verses 1-2 that Stewards eventually have to give an account for what they have been entrusted with to the one who entrusted it to them. We see further that if you do not care for what you have been entrusted with as instructed (to grow what you have been entrusted with in value and worth) you may never be entrusted with anything again in the future.
The same holds true with what God entrusts you with, including financial blessings. If you are an effective Steward and responsible and accountable to care for what God has entrusted you with as He wants you to,( He will bless you with more. If you are not an effective Steward, not only will God not bless you with more but He will take what you already have and give it to someone else as we saw in the Matthew 25 parable.
Being an effective Steward is serious business, but demonstrates to God that you truly trust Him as your source so He can trust you and bless you with more.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
#59 - Kingdom Prosperity #25
The parable in Matthew 25:14-30 gives us great insight into what being an effective Steward is all about, not only over the financial blessings God bestows upon us as in this parable but over all of the blessings God bestows upon us.
The first insight is that effective Stewards take action. They just don't baby sit what they are entrusted with, but make movement to grow it in value and worth.
The second insight is that effective Stewards learn how the one who entrusts them with something to watch over wants them to take care of and grow what they entrust them with, through knowledge of the one who entrusted it to them which takes time, study of and spending time with that person, asking questions, listening to and for instructions, etc.
The third insight is that effective Stewards know and make sure the one who entrusted them with something to watch over knows what they are capable of and are not capable of.
The fourth insight is that the one entrusting us with something won't give us something we can't handle, if they know what we are capable (see insight three above). In the case of God, He already knows what we are capable of and not capable of, and will not entrust us with something we can't handle, nor until we have demonstrated we can handle it even if we are capable.
The fifth insight which is an offshoot of the fourth insight, is that an effective Steward needs to walk in faith that he can do what God wants him to do to care for and grow what He has been entrusted with.
We'll look at some more insights into effective Stewardship from another parable in the next Post.
The first insight is that effective Stewards take action. They just don't baby sit what they are entrusted with, but make movement to grow it in value and worth.
The second insight is that effective Stewards learn how the one who entrusts them with something to watch over wants them to take care of and grow what they entrust them with, through knowledge of the one who entrusted it to them which takes time, study of and spending time with that person, asking questions, listening to and for instructions, etc.
The third insight is that effective Stewards know and make sure the one who entrusted them with something to watch over knows what they are capable of and are not capable of.
The fourth insight is that the one entrusting us with something won't give us something we can't handle, if they know what we are capable (see insight three above). In the case of God, He already knows what we are capable of and not capable of, and will not entrust us with something we can't handle, nor until we have demonstrated we can handle it even if we are capable.
The fifth insight which is an offshoot of the fourth insight, is that an effective Steward needs to walk in faith that he can do what God wants him to do to care for and grow what He has been entrusted with.
We'll look at some more insights into effective Stewardship from another parable in the next Post.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
#58 - Kingdom Prosperity #24
With the understanding of what Stewardship is and how it works covered in the last several Posts, let's talk about how you learn or find out what you need to do to increase or grow the worth or value of what you've been entrusted with to be a Steward over.
In short, you learn from the one who entrusted you with something to be a Steward over, as being an effective Steward is taking care of other people's stuff the way they want you to.
In the example of the bank, the bank learns your expectations by your depositing money with them, the expectation being that the bank will grow your money at a minimum by the rates they advertise, or even more depending on the type of investment instrument you select.
In the example of the aparment rental you learn from the Landlord what he or she expects of you while living in and maintaining their (not your) apartment unit.
In the example of your children as it is with anything God entrusts you with to be a Steward over including the financial blessings He bestows upon you, you learn how to grow in worth or value what God has entrusted you with from His Word - through study of the Bible, through the Holy Spirit and through the men and women of God the Lord sends into your life. This requires an investment of time studying the Word, being alone in communion with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and commiting to coming under the authority of men or woman of God the Lord sends into your life.
This takes work, effort and sacrifice on your part, but the results are worth it.
In the next Post we will begin looking at some of the things we learn from God's Word about being an effective Steward over the financial blessings God gives us.
In short, you learn from the one who entrusted you with something to be a Steward over, as being an effective Steward is taking care of other people's stuff the way they want you to.
In the example of the bank, the bank learns your expectations by your depositing money with them, the expectation being that the bank will grow your money at a minimum by the rates they advertise, or even more depending on the type of investment instrument you select.
In the example of the aparment rental you learn from the Landlord what he or she expects of you while living in and maintaining their (not your) apartment unit.
In the example of your children as it is with anything God entrusts you with to be a Steward over including the financial blessings He bestows upon you, you learn how to grow in worth or value what God has entrusted you with from His Word - through study of the Bible, through the Holy Spirit and through the men and women of God the Lord sends into your life. This requires an investment of time studying the Word, being alone in communion with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and commiting to coming under the authority of men or woman of God the Lord sends into your life.
This takes work, effort and sacrifice on your part, but the results are worth it.
In the next Post we will begin looking at some of the things we learn from God's Word about being an effective Steward over the financial blessings God gives us.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
#57 - Kingdom Prosperity #23
Let's take a closer look at what Stewardship is, and how it works.
Being an effective Steward is more than just "baby sitting" or watching over God's and other people's stuff. It requires work on your part to nuture and increase the value of what you have been entrusted with to watch over.
Example 1 - When you deposit money in a bank or other type of financial institution, you expect the that institution to be an effective Steward and invest your money wisely so it increases over what you originally deposited. When they do, you reward the bank by leaving your money in the bank and depositing more. If they don't, you withdraw your money and invest it elsewhere.
Example 2 - If you rent an apartment the Landlord expects you to be an effective Steward, keeping it clean and not damaging anything. If you do, you get to renew your lease when it's up or get your deposit back should you decide to move. If you don't keep your apartment up you may not be able to renew your lease or get some/all of your deposit back.
Example 3 - God entrusts us with children and expects us to nuture and raise them into young men and women of God, so when they are of age and we in a sense return them to God, they are more then when they were born, ready to do the work of the Kingdom.
So being an effective Steward requires work on your part, knowing what you need to do to increase the value or worth of what you have been entrusted with, and then doing it. And it's the same with the financial blessings God entrusts you with, including how you manage it, spend it and invest it.
We'll take a look at how you learn what you need to do to grow the blessings God bestows upon you in the next Post.
Being an effective Steward is more than just "baby sitting" or watching over God's and other people's stuff. It requires work on your part to nuture and increase the value of what you have been entrusted with to watch over.
Example 1 - When you deposit money in a bank or other type of financial institution, you expect the that institution to be an effective Steward and invest your money wisely so it increases over what you originally deposited. When they do, you reward the bank by leaving your money in the bank and depositing more. If they don't, you withdraw your money and invest it elsewhere.
Example 2 - If you rent an apartment the Landlord expects you to be an effective Steward, keeping it clean and not damaging anything. If you do, you get to renew your lease when it's up or get your deposit back should you decide to move. If you don't keep your apartment up you may not be able to renew your lease or get some/all of your deposit back.
Example 3 - God entrusts us with children and expects us to nuture and raise them into young men and women of God, so when they are of age and we in a sense return them to God, they are more then when they were born, ready to do the work of the Kingdom.
So being an effective Steward requires work on your part, knowing what you need to do to increase the value or worth of what you have been entrusted with, and then doing it. And it's the same with the financial blessings God entrusts you with, including how you manage it, spend it and invest it.
We'll take a look at how you learn what you need to do to grow the blessings God bestows upon you in the next Post.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
#56 - Kingdom Prosperity #22
So when you start to follow God's financial plan, tithes & offerings, and begin to be blessed financially and otherwise, what should you do? How should you manage or take of what God blesses you with?
We are going to deal with that in the next several Posts covering the topic of Stewardship, and more specifically financial stewardship. But the principles we will look at can be applied to effective stewardship in every area of your life.
In short, Stewardship is taking care of or watching over what others have entrusted to your care in such a way so that when you return what was entrusted to you to who entrusted you with it, it is worth more or more valuable that when it was entrusted to you. As it relates to the what God blesses you with, I like to think of Stewardship as taking care of God's stuff God's way.
We'll get into this definition a little deeper as well as other principles of effective stewardship beginning with the next Post.
We are going to deal with that in the next several Posts covering the topic of Stewardship, and more specifically financial stewardship. But the principles we will look at can be applied to effective stewardship in every area of your life.
In short, Stewardship is taking care of or watching over what others have entrusted to your care in such a way so that when you return what was entrusted to you to who entrusted you with it, it is worth more or more valuable that when it was entrusted to you. As it relates to the what God blesses you with, I like to think of Stewardship as taking care of God's stuff God's way.
We'll get into this definition a little deeper as well as other principles of effective stewardship beginning with the next Post.
Monday, July 13, 2015
#55 - Kingdom Prosperity #21
I covered quite a bit about tithes & offerings in the last several Posts past two weeks, so I offer the following summary including some things I didn't touch upon which I pray will be helpfull:
1. Ask God for seed so you can tithe and give an offering.
2. The tithe is the first and best 10% of your increase
(Deuteronomy 26:1-3) that
opens the windows of heaven
for God to bless you.
3. The offering is a free will
choice above & beyond the
tithe that is a form of worship
and which increases the
abundance of your blessings.
4. Write the tithe & offering
checks first.
5. Give an offering out of your
own free will from the
remaining 90% after you tithe.
6. Place your tithes & offerings in
the envelopes provided by your
home church.
7. Pray over your tithes &
offerings at home before going
into the house of God,
personalizing your prayer
according to
Deuteronomy 26:4-15.
8. Bring your tithes & offerings
into the house of the Lord
where God has placed His
name, presenting them to the
Sheppard God has placed over
that House.
9. Remember, bringing the tithe
and giving the offering is more
about the condition of your
heart, rather than how much
you give (Matthew 26:19-21).
1. Ask God for seed so you can tithe and give an offering.
2. The tithe is the first and best 10% of your increase
(Deuteronomy 26:1-3) that
opens the windows of heaven
for God to bless you.
3. The offering is a free will
choice above & beyond the
tithe that is a form of worship
and which increases the
abundance of your blessings.
4. Write the tithe & offering
checks first.
5. Give an offering out of your
own free will from the
remaining 90% after you tithe.
6. Place your tithes & offerings in
the envelopes provided by your
home church.
7. Pray over your tithes &
offerings at home before going
into the house of God,
personalizing your prayer
according to
Deuteronomy 26:4-15.
8. Bring your tithes & offerings
into the house of the Lord
where God has placed His
name, presenting them to the
Sheppard God has placed over
that House.
9. Remember, bringing the tithe
and giving the offering is more
about the condition of your
heart, rather than how much
you give (Matthew 26:19-21).
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
#54 - Kingdom Prosperity #20
A good habit to get into when preparing your tithes and offerings is to name your seed. In other words, let God know what you are believing Him for as you sow into His Kingdom.
Many times we don't receive the promises God makes to us in His Word because we don't ask, as the last part of James 4:2 tells us. And even when we do ask we sometimes don't continue to exercise our faith after we ask with our continued confessions and actions, including calling that thing out we are believing God for when we give, thanking God for already blessing us with it, writing it on the tithe & offering check or on the giving envelope. In other words, naming our seed!
So I encourage you to get in the habit of naming your seed when you give as an expression of your faith that God has already met your needs. God will honor that, and the manifestation of your answer will come sooner rather later.
Many times we don't receive the promises God makes to us in His Word because we don't ask, as the last part of James 4:2 tells us. And even when we do ask we sometimes don't continue to exercise our faith after we ask with our continued confessions and actions, including calling that thing out we are believing God for when we give, thanking God for already blessing us with it, writing it on the tithe & offering check or on the giving envelope. In other words, naming our seed!
So I encourage you to get in the habit of naming your seed when you give as an expression of your faith that God has already met your needs. God will honor that, and the manifestation of your answer will come sooner rather later.
Monday, July 6, 2015
#53 - Kingdom Prosperity #19
Deuteronomy 26:4-15 gives us a model for praying over our tithes and offerings, something we should do at home as we prepare our tithes and offerings before bringing them into the House of the Lord.
Is it wrong to wait until you get to church and pray corporately when the tithes and offerings are given? No, it isn't, no more so than it's not wrong to wait until you get to church to write your tithe and offering check. But it does say something about the condition of your heart, which is what God is really interested in.
Taking the time to write your tithe and offering check at home, first, before any other check; and then dedicating your tithes and offerings through prayer, personalized to fit your situation and to tell God how thankful you are for the seed He's given you to sow and for all He's done in your life, shows God He truly has your heart and that you really trust Him as your source rather than waiting until you get to church to write your check and praying corporately with your brothers and sisters in Christ (which should also do).
God will honor the sacrifice of your time, your tithes & offerings and your prayers, if you choose to put Him first instead of your convenience.
Is it wrong to wait until you get to church and pray corporately when the tithes and offerings are given? No, it isn't, no more so than it's not wrong to wait until you get to church to write your tithe and offering check. But it does say something about the condition of your heart, which is what God is really interested in.
Taking the time to write your tithe and offering check at home, first, before any other check; and then dedicating your tithes and offerings through prayer, personalized to fit your situation and to tell God how thankful you are for the seed He's given you to sow and for all He's done in your life, shows God He truly has your heart and that you really trust Him as your source rather than waiting until you get to church to write your check and praying corporately with your brothers and sisters in Christ (which should also do).
God will honor the sacrifice of your time, your tithes & offerings and your prayers, if you choose to put Him first instead of your convenience.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
#52 - Kingdom Prosperity #18
Do you write your tithe & offering checks at home before you come to church, or in church when it's time to give? The answer reveals a lot about where your heart is.
Deuteronomy 26:1-3 tells us we should bring our first produce to the Lord. That means we should write our tithe and offering checks first before all other checks. Many people do not though because even though they may love the Lord, they don't really put Him first in their lives. Instead of making Him their life they try to squeeze God in their life around their schedule. God doesn't want our leftovers or takes second place to anyone or anything.
But putting God first in your life and truly giving your heart to God is a choice, a decision you have to make out of your own free will. While making the tithe and offering check the first check you write isn't the only way you show God He has your heart, it is one way and requires both you choosing to do so and then disciplining yourself to do so (like making it the first line item in your budget).
We'll talk about when and how to pray over your tithes and offerings in the next Post.
Deuteronomy 26:1-3 tells us we should bring our first produce to the Lord. That means we should write our tithe and offering checks first before all other checks. Many people do not though because even though they may love the Lord, they don't really put Him first in their lives. Instead of making Him their life they try to squeeze God in their life around their schedule. God doesn't want our leftovers or takes second place to anyone or anything.
But putting God first in your life and truly giving your heart to God is a choice, a decision you have to make out of your own free will. While making the tithe and offering check the first check you write isn't the only way you show God He has your heart, it is one way and requires both you choosing to do so and then disciplining yourself to do so (like making it the first line item in your budget).
We'll talk about when and how to pray over your tithes and offerings in the next Post.
Friday, July 3, 2015
#51 - Kingdom Prosperity #18
How you prepare your tithes and offerings to bring before the Lord is important, as it is a further demonstration to Him of the condition of your heart.
Do you wait until the Pastor calls for tithes & offerings to write your check? Do you pray over your tithes & offerings at home before coming into the house of God? Do you name your seed when you prepare your tithes & offerings?
The answers to these and other questions reveal the condition of your heart to God and demonstrate to Him whether or not you truly trust Him as your source. Because God's not concerned about how much your tithe is or the size of your offering, but whether or not you have a heart for Him and really see Him as Lord (ruler and master) of every area of your life.
So starting with the next Post we will take a closer look at each of these questions.
Do you wait until the Pastor calls for tithes & offerings to write your check? Do you pray over your tithes & offerings at home before coming into the house of God? Do you name your seed when you prepare your tithes & offerings?
The answers to these and other questions reveal the condition of your heart to God and demonstrate to Him whether or not you truly trust Him as your source. Because God's not concerned about how much your tithe is or the size of your offering, but whether or not you have a heart for Him and really see Him as Lord (ruler and master) of every area of your life.
So starting with the next Post we will take a closer look at each of these questions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)