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7/31/2019 Stewardship 1

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Stewardship: Using What God Gives Us

All of us receive gifts from God. Some are universal- like time. We are allprivileged to be given the gift of twenty-four hours each day to live. But some giftsare unique. There are some who are given talents in music. Some excel in visual arts.

Some people are good in speaking in large crowds. You get the picture?

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:31, said, Whatever you do, do it all for the glory ofGod. God has bestowed on each of His children gifts, resources and abilities to beused. Different people. Diverse gifts. One thing stands: each one must use whateverGod gives us to bring glory to God. This is stewardship. It is making the most of whatGod has entrusted to us-time, money and talents.

I. Time

Our time is owned by God. If we would not use it properly, we cannot do the

things that God wants us to do. We cannot glorify God with our negligent use of thetime that He gives us.

A. Where should you spend your time?

1 Tim 4:13

13 Until I come, devote yourselfto the public reading of Scripture, to preachingand to teaching.

(NIV)

Paul, Timothys mentor, regarded his disciple to as a faithful and diligentsteward and encouraged him to do the right things. How would you apply Paulsadvice as a modern day Timothy?

Ephesians 5:15-21

How would a disciple use his or her time? A disciple must use his time

1. For God

Each of us needs food to survive. Without it, our bodies cannot function forthere would be no source of energy and materials to be utilized by the body inprocesses that would keep us alive and functional.

In the same way, we must need our daily sustenance of food from God. Wemust have our daily time with God through prayers, bible reading, and quiet time. Wemust also try to help in the ministry, in the local church or even in sharing the goodnews to other people. Time spend for God is essential and is a need.

2. For yourself excel for God


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We can glorify God not just through bible reading, giving or praying. Everythingwe do is an opportunity and a responsibility to live for Gods glory. Balance the timespend for your job or school, family, for yourself and for recreation.

3. For you to reach and help the needy

We must take time to help the weak, whether physically, emotionally and spiritually.

4. Decide where you would use kairos or a set or proper time. You can spend it wiselyby not just filling it with tasks or things to do. Ask if:

- You serve and glorify God.

- You deepen relationship with other people.

- You become a blessing to other people.

- You find joy in what you do.

B. How to use your time in a way that would glorify God?

1. Know your priorities.

What are your priorities? Job? Family? Ministry? Self? God wants Himself to be yourgreatest priority. If He would be your topmost priority, you would glorify Him.

2. Portion out.

List down the tasks or things to be done and decide where you would spend thegreatest portion of your time.

3. Schedule.

How you manage your time would indicate how youll manage the things given byGod. Scheduling may seem to be too much regimentation. It may seem to beawkward and unnatural to make a schedule at first, but it will pay great dividends ifyou would try it faithfully, say, for a semester if you are a student or for a quarter of a

year.

Planning brings freedom, not restrictions. And the habits you develop now willlast for a lifetime and reward you many times over the minor investments of effortsexpended now.

It is not time that we manage. We manage ourselves to use our time wisely.We must have discipline. Every second is owned by God and is just lend to us.

Above all, keep a strong focus on your daily personal relationship with God. Heis the ultimate priority of your life and the source of your success in everything youdo.

II. Money

Money is important in real life and it is also an important topic in the Bible.However, it cannot satisfy or needs. We must keep reminding ourselves that Godmust be first in our lives. (Psalm23:1; Matthew6:24)

Psalm 119:36 (NLT)


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Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with the love formoney.

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For Godhas said, I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil.

Money is not the root of all evil- the love of money is. Read the verses thatdirectly follow that passage: 1Timothy 6:11-12. According to these verses, how can adisciple fight the good fight? What does this look like in your life?

To prevent ourselves from loving money, instead of viewing money as ours, touse as we wish, we must view it as Gods, to use as He wishes. Giving God the bestpart of everything will help us maintain this perspective.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your landproduces. Then he will fill your barns with grain.

A. Where should you spend your money?

1. To give back to God.

Malachi 3:10Bring all the tithes into the storehouses If you do, says the Lord Almighty,

I will open the windows of heaven for you.

Tithing is biblical and is found in the Old Testament laws. In the NewTestament, we can read 1Corinthians 6:20 which tells us that we are bought at aprice. We must therefore honor God with (our) body as well as with all that wehave. We are bought by God and we owe Him everything we have not only becauseHe created us, but because we were bought at a price-the blood of Jesus Christ.1Peter 1:18-19 tells us the same story. God owns everything that we have. We must,therefore, give them back to God.

It is not that we must give the entire amount to God, although the tithes mustbe given immediately in the Old Testament times. But we must remember that weare merely stewards and not owners of our financial resources.

Jesus also spoke about money issues. See for example the story about thewidows offering in Mark 12:41-44. He took advantage of one opportunity in particularto turn our view of wealth upside down. For us, the greater the amount, the more itweighs. But for God, His primary concern is the heart. Read also 2Corinthians 9:7.


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2Corinthians 9:7

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantlyor under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

To thank for His provision

1 Chr 29:14-17

14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give asgenerously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only whatcomes from your hand.

15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our dayson earth are like a shadow, without hope.

16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for buildingyou a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs toyou.

17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. Allthese things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with

joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.

(NIV)

2. To help other people.

Read Matthew 25:34-40; 1John 3:17-18.

We all know that we have to help the needy. The question lies if we practicewhat we know.

3. For yourself.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables himto enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-- this is a gift of God.

(NIV)

B. How to use your money in a way that would glorify God?

Among a myriad of motives and incentives, giving requires a conscious choice.The best way to get into a habit of giving is to make a plan.

1. Decide what percentage of your income you want to give back to God. Manyuse the tithe as a standard minimum. Ask God what percentage He wants youto give. Listen to him and stick with it.

2. When you get paid or receive your allowance, set aside the money first- beforeyou spend it right away.

3. in addition to your tithes ,Pray about where God would like you to give yourmoney. You may opt to give it in the church, to charitable institutions, or to


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missions. Pray for Gods direction and really have fun by offering back a portionof your money to God.

You may use this matrix as your guide in portioning out your money and/or resources.

Presentportion

Plannedportion

To be given back toGod

% %

For the needy % %

For yourself % %

God commands us to be good stewards in earning, spending, and saving ourmoney. He understands the importance of providing for the needs of our family andfuture. But He also expects us to use our money to help others.

God promised that we must not worry for He will provide.Matthew 6: 31-33

Do not worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like thepagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Fatheralready knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if youlive for Him and you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

III. Talents, Interests, Abilities

God has charged and equipped each of us for us to serve Him with his or herunique talents, interests, and abilities.

A. How would you use your talents, interests, abilities in a way that wouldglorify God?

1 Pet 4:10-11

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfullyadministering God's grace in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. Ifanyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all thingsGod may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for everand ever. Amen.

(NIV)

According to 1 Pet 4:10-11, how are we supposed to use their gifts?

The Father designed people- giving them their own looks, health, voice, ideas, talents,and character traits. And theres a reason for it: He wants us to honor Him throughwhat we have. He loves us. Because He loves us, we love Him. Because we love Him,we as His Disciples want to make the most of the resources He has given us.


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Think about your life, mention some areas in which God has gifted you and how youmight be able to use that gift to serve and worship Him.

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1 Cor 4:2

2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

(NIV)

In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul told his readers that they must prove faithful. In whatways would you change to prove yourself faithful with your resources?

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