Spiritual Disciplines
Steps to Stewardship
Eric Hulstrand writes in Leadership magazine: “While I was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance.
As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to head out the door, Mary regained consciousness. She motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what could be her final words. The daughter leaned over until her ear was at her mother’s mouth.
She whispered, ’My offering is in my purse.’ “
In this story we have an excellent picture of what it means to have the right heart condition for stewardship. The woman’s last words showed what was of highest importance to her - to be a good steward of gifts God had given her.
Over the last month we’ve been examining the Spiritual Disciplines we need to constantly be applying in our daily routine. And up until now, they’ve been what you could consider “Internal Disciplines”, focusing on the inward change. Today we shift to the “Outward Disciplines”. The focus here is how we allow the Internal Disciplines to directly affect how we are disciplined outwardly.
In Simple terms: We are changed on the inside, and now we must show it!
This morning I want to examine what it means to Practice Good Stewardship.
1. The Biblical Principal
stew·ard Date: before 12th century
1: one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (as the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts)
I like this definition, because when we think of it in light of God’s house, we too are “employed” and are set to the task of managing His affairs here on earth aren’t we?
Psalm 24:1 (NLT)
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it
God has given us everything!
There’s a story of a preacher who once delivered a rousing sermon on “God’s Ownership” that frustrated a rich parishioner in the church. The wealthy man took the preacher out for lunch, and then walked him through his immense land, including farm and livestock. “Now are you going to tell me that all this land does not belong to me?” The preacher smiled and said, “Ask me that same question a hundred years from now.”
Everything we have, we have because God gave it to us; they are His blessing for us. And in the scope of Good Stewardship, we recognize that we are in the employment and service of The King, and he has asked that we in turn properly “steward” what he has given us.
STEWARDSHIP: Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.
- Holman Bible Dictionary
So what will we do with what he has given us? Will we hoard it? Will we be miserly, giving expecting a return; will we give because we have some left over? Or will we simply give because it was first given to us?
Deuteronomy 26:1-3 (NLT)
“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, 2 put some of the first produce from each crop you harvest into a basket and bring it to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. 3 Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, ‘With this gift I acknowledge to the Lord your God that I have entered the land he swore to our ancestors he would give us.’
We should all be wise to follow the model of Stewardship in this passage, as it shows us the steps to begin Good Stewardship: Giving God Our Firsts!
When we give God our firsts, we are demonstrating that God is top priority in all we have, and do.
2. Give God the first part of your Day
This may seem simple, but it may be tougher than it looks.
But this is a very important step towards good stewardship because you’re taking the time to first acknowledge God before you begin anything. Look at the example that Jesus gave us:
Mark 1:35 (NLT)
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Jesus understood the importance of spending time with His Father in Solitude. Your time can be a time of study, prayer or worship—but the focus must be dedication of the time to God!
Remember, if you’re relationship with God is not priority one, everything else in your life will seem like a chasing after the wind.
3. Give God the First Day of the Week
In the Bible, God commanded a Sabbath day as a way to make God a priority by setting aside time in busy schedules for worship and rest.
Exodus 20:8 (NLT)
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
What I do not want to do today is strike up a debate on the Sabbath being originally Saturday, or that modern day it is Sunday; because to do this misses the point entirely.
The point here is that God has instructed us to set aside a day for rest, and for worship:
Exodus 20:11 (NIV)
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Do not get caught up in the legalism of “What the Sabbath” is supposed to be. Just ask anyone who serves in ministry, and they’ll tell you that Sunday is not usually a day of rest. We generally have to set aside another day to rest and worship the Lord.
I was personally convicted by God with this recently. I was getting so caught up in the work of ministry, that was neglecting my own Sabbath! That’s poor Stewardship of my time Folks!
Keep this thought in mind: The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.
We are created as looking upward. We must never forget that. We were created to worship God, and we are called to rest in His Power.
Setting aside one day is the first step. This causes us to take an account of how we are managing our time the rest of the week.
4. Give God the first part of your Valuables
Notice I didn’t say money here. To some money is not the thing we hold as most valuable. God asks us to give him a tithe first.
When we look at the word “tithe” it comes from a Hebrew and Greek words both meaning “a tenth”.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NIV)
“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. 23 Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.
God does not need your money.
All Tithes and Offerings do not enrich God who is the Creator of all things.
So why is tithing important? On the individual level:
1. Acknowledges who provided your financial blessings
2. It teaches us reverence of God (Healthy Fear)
3. We are commanded to do so!
4. When we give, we become like God the Great Giver!
5. We will experience the highest form of joy possible when we give of ourselves for the well being of others!
(Paul Harvey, Nov. 1995): The Butterball Turkey company set up a hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys. One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in her freezer for 23 years.
The operator told her it might be safe if the freezer had been kept below 0 degrees the entire time. But the operator warned the woman that, even if it were safe, the flavor had probably deteriorated, and she wouldn’t recommend eating it.
The caller replied, “That’s what we thought. We’ll just give it to the church.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NLT)
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Paul is addressing two things here:
- Our Motivation and Attitude in Giving: Cheerfully and our Best!
- God gives so that we can also Give (and repeats this cycle as often as we do)
Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
How do you decide how much to give? What about differences in the financial resources Christians have?
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 (NLT)
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.
Paul gives the Corinthian (2nd Cor.) church several principles to follow:
(1) each person should follow through on previous promises (8:10; 9:3);
(2) each person should give as much as he or she is able (8:12; 9:6); Might not be Money!
(3) each person must make up his or her own mind how much to give (9:7);
(4) each person should give in proportion to what God has given (9:10). God gives to us so that we can give to others.
Remember: God does not need you. He does not need your money. The success of His church does not rely upon you.
God desires you. He wants everything you can give. Test ME! (Malachi 3)
5. Give God first consideration in every decision
By nature, Man is not righteous. It’s true. So it’s safe to assume that our first thought in the decisions are not always God centered first, correct?
Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
You may think you are not like this, but we all are. It’s just one of those facts of life. We make decisions based on self for profit or gain. We have a tendency to forget who our employer is.
Free will: 1 : voluntary choice or decision 2 : freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention
Yes, we have been given Free Will. But what the world doesn’t advertise are the drawbacks to Free Will: Loneliness, Worry, Depression, Rebellion, Confusion, Anger, Strife
What we need is a shift in thinking. Turning our will to God’s will. We need God’s Wisdom and Guidance.
James 1:5-6 (NLT)
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Next time you have a decision to make, ask yourself this, “What would God have me do? How is it that HE would be glorified here?” If you’re unsure, ask God. Seek His counsel and wisdom.
6. Give God first place in your heart
I would argue that this is the first and foremost step that must be followed, but I saved it for last for the sake of emphasis.
This step is the difference between Following after God’s Own Heart, and just being a “Good Person”
- You must have a definition of Truth
This step alone is the difference in Godly Service or Dead Works.
- Comes from a heart of wanting to show God’s love, and do his work no matter the cost
- This in turn is the proof of God in us
Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)
Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
When we give God first place in our hearts, we are acknowledging that He is Good, and Great enough to sustain me through all seasons.
This in turn creates the heart condition that is ready to “manage all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation .”
NLT John 14:21
[Jesus’ speaking] Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them.
We put God first by loving him, and we demonstrate that love obeying his commands, doing what he tells us to do.
We also demonstrate our love for God in loving Jesus Christ. When we love him, and obey his commands, we demonstrate our love to God the Father.
-Prayer
