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