An Inconvenience (Stewardship Message)

Jesus shares an important truth with us: Luke 12:25, (Bible) “Who of you by being worried can add a single hour to their life?" (End) (Pause)

Aren’t most of the struggles of this life, especially when viewed in hindsight, nothing more than an inconvenience?

Throughout our marriage when Lee and I as a couple or as a family would face struggles; Lee would always bring them back into perspective and say “They are only an Inconvenience.” And in truth they are!

Beloved, We live through the struggles of life; we grow through the struggles of life.

And hopefully we learn through the struggles of life that they are no more than (Pause) an inconvenience.

Once we go through them we become empowered. We realize that we will live through those situations if we are called to face them again. (Pause)

A student squeezes in line, in front of you, at a high school football game, that’s not a problem that is only (Pause) an inconvenience.

Someone takes a parking space that you are about to pull into, that is not a problem that is only (PAUSE) an inconvenience? Now help me here!

You have a flat tire while driving to the airport and you might miss your flight; that’s only (Pause) an inconvenience.

It takes eight and a half years for your child to finally graduate from college, that’s only (Pause) an inconvenience.

While on vacation celebrating 30 years of marriage you end up in a hospital in Mexico with a bill for $1,700.00 U.S. Dollars. That’s not a problem that’s only (Pause) an inconvenience.

The Dow falls, you lose 40% of the value of your stock holdings, the company you work for is going bankrupt and you will probably lose your job, that’s only (Pause). Yes, it too (P) is only an inconvenience (Long Pause).

I remember very clearly a conversation with my grandfather when he was in the hospital dying of cancer.

He said “Jeffy, all the other problems I faced in life were nothing compared to this; I would give up all my money; I would give up all the things that I own to only have my health back.

I had the opportunity to pray with my grandfather in the hospital a few days before he died. (Pause)

Yes, even death itself is only an inconvenience to those who know Christ as their Savior and Lord.” (Pause)

If we are honest, most of the situations that we become most anxious about, are also the ones that we have little or no control over; much like these uncertain economic times that we are all facing today.

That we are all facing individually, as families, as a nation and as a Church. But these too are only an inconvenience. (Pause)

We are called to be good stewards of all that God gives us and to bring to Him our lives, our tithes and our offerings.

In fact in Malachi God says: “Test me now on this,” bring me your titles and offerings and see “if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

This truth is filled with so much spiritual power that God the Father says to Test me on this (Pause).

A blessing that that cannot be contained; God will pour out a blessing until it (LIFT HANDS) cannot be contained, until it overflows. (Long Pause)

Being a good steward reminds me of the annual Stewardship campaigns that our church in Ohio would have; Yes, Once a year we would discuss finances and tithing.

Is tithing an important part of the