“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
WE OWN NOTHING IN THIS LIFE—we are stewards, managers of God’s possessions. We are entrusted with the temporal goods of time, talent, and treasure in order to grow in our relationships.
Stewardship of Time
Each of us has been given enough time to accomplish God’s purposes for us on this planet. The Scriptures exhort us to invest our time wisely: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Stewardship of Talent
Stewardship involves managing the possessions of another; even our gifts and talents are not ours. They are for the Lord to use as He pleases: “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly” (Romans 12:6).
Stewardship of Treasure
Our treasures are easily identified but often it is very hard to give up possession of them. To acknowledge they are the Lord’s takes faith and an ongoing commitment. “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25 NLT). “He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot).
Stewardship of Relationships
Our relationships with others (family, friends, the church body, etc.) are among our most valuable assets. At the end of their life, rarely do people wish they had spent more time making money and less on relationships.
“I have concluded that the accumulation of wealth, even if I could achieve it, is an insufficient reason for living. When I reach the end of my days, a moment or two from now, I must look backward on something more meaningful than the pursuit of houses, land, machines, stocks and bonds. Nor is fame any lasting benefit. I will consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense.” — James Dobson, Jr.
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Purchase the Entire Devotional – “Experiencing Christ as Life and Leader”
The devotion above was taken from the 52-week Devotional entitled “Experiencing Christ as Life and Leader”.
Many give a mental assent to this teaching yet are often asking, “What do I do? What does Christ as life look like?“ Too often Christians err by moving too far to one side or the other—reducing the Christian life to a list of do’s and don’ts, or they actually do nothing.
These inspiring weekly devotions are just some of the actions that reflect the life of Christ in each of us, and they explore four areas as we follow the One Leader, Jesus Christ –
- A Foundational Focus
- A Personal Focus
- A Relational Focus
- A Missional Focus
Be challenged, encouraged, and spurred on to a deeper walk with Christ.
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