| How much do you think God Trusts you? What | | | | for; Bishops, stewards, elders, those that |
| does God trust you with? Would you like more | | | | are qualified to be in spiritual service and |
| from God? Do you think you could handle more? | | | | leadership is that they have a successful |
| What would you say is too much for you to | | | | marriage and family. Can they possess their |
| handle? These and other ponder provoking | | | | vessels, love their wives as Christ loved the |
| questions could be part of a savvy Gallup or | | | | church, sacrificially that is, and in harmony |
| George Barna group survey but no. These are | | | | raise Godly children? Then do people speak |
| just small pieces in of one of the major | | | | well of them? Can they handle their own money |
| points of development that God wants expanded | | | | and not be greedy? So forth and so on. |
| in every believer. Stewardship. | | | | |
| | | | God will put things in our lives and some |
| Stewards are the most trusted servants, the | | | | under our stewardship. The first are our |
| guys with all the keys. The first use in the | | | | gifts, abilities and natural drives. Second |
| Bible is where Abraham is lamenting having no | | | | are Christ, His Word and Holy Spirit to |
| son. The closet thing he has is Eliezer his | | | | redeem and lead us away from the first gifts |
| steward who was his heir if no son was forth | | | | being our destruction. The second set guides |
| coming. The last use is Paul writing to Titus | | | | us towards offering the first set back to Him |
| using steward of God to describe the function | | | | in thankful submission and humble service. |
| of a Bishop then listing the traits needed to | | | | After this the key to having more keys in The |
| be a Bishop/Steward. So you see Stewardship | | | | Kingdom is having the self-control and |
| is a pretty big deal. | | | | sacrificial love about you to be a loving |
| | | | husband and father. You might remember that |
| If properly understood Stewardship is | | | | God has called Himself "a husband to the |
| literally foundational to our spiritual | | | | "widow" and "Father" to us all. This is His |
| growth. If misunderstood well, consider the | | | | Heart and a high and needed Call in our |
| following. As men why does God give us | | | | carnal self-serving times. |
| wandering eyes and heavy libidos that are | | | | |
| their weightiest when we are youngest and | | | | So before you blast off to do your |
| most foolish? God is not cruel or foolish but | | | | boys-night-out or softball practice or |
| He does expect us to possess our own vessels. | | | | consider strategy over the stringer of |
| It is not supposed to be easy nor are we | | | | lovelies you might be juggling. Ask yourself, |
| expected to be perfect, it is the effort and | | | | do I want more of God and from God? Then |
| humility to reach beyond ourselves towards | | | | consider how well you are handling your |
| God for strength. In admitting weakness but | | | | vessel and foundational relationships. If He |
| not excusing our shortcomings we balance | | | | can not trust us with the things of this |
| reliance on His Grace with our desire and | | | | world do not expect much Heavenly power and |
| responsibility to please and obey Him in | | | | responsibility to be coming your way here or |
| humility. | | | | in eternity. You might also remember what |
| | | | happened to the guy that put his talent in |
| This is how we progress in stewardship, part | | | | the ground. He lost it all but remember he |
| by God's Grace and refiner's fire and part by | | | | chose to put in the ground. |
| self-control and meekness, strength under | | | | |
| control. Believing in His Grace and | | | | After all this sanctimony, seriously consider |
| Faithfulness without abusing it and walking | | | | the priority God places on family. Consider |
| humbly within our abilities are what God is | | | | the example of sacrificial love that He sat |
| looking for in His Stewards. These are part | | | | before us. How much are you willing to give |
| of a foundation of character He can add to | | | | up? This is what determines how much you will |
| and build on. | | | | receive. How much do you think you can |
| | | | handle, Brother? You might be surprised to |
| As men we need to look back to that letter | | | | find out that God has more faith and hope in |
| from Paul to Titus. What he gives greatest | | | | you than you do. |
| and first priority to for Titus in his search | | | | |