The Daily Test of Stewardship

Did you know that each day when you wake up, you begin a new test of stewardship? We’ve all been placed as stewards over many, many things. Think about the resources you’ve been entrusted with. A few basics that most of us can relate to are: a home, a vehicle, money. What about the resources that can’t be monetarily valued: your job, your family members, spouse, your friends and co-workers, and perhaps one of the most precious resources of all, your time. All of these are things that have been put into our ownership, and until the day we go home to be with our Savior, each day we will be given the daily test of stewardship.

A steward is a manager. You are a manager. Have you ever had an experience with a manager that you deemed good? Did you want to sing complement them, or pass along the word? What about a poor manager… how did your experience with him/her make you feel? It’s possible that the sentiments you felt on either occasion could also be translated in your daily test of stewardship.

A good manager:
- is aware of the resources he’s managing, and maximizes them to the fullest potential
- takes good care of the equipment/people/resources that he manages
- is vision focused. He aligns his resources to accomplish the vision of the company he works for

A poor manager:
- is lazy and wasteful
- has his mind set on things other than his job (the weekend ahead or the next big event on his personal calendar)
- cares more for his own needs than the needs of his team

Never forget that regardless of your performance, God’s love, grace, and mercy never run out! If you didn’t manage your yesterday like a good manager would, it’s ok, because His mercy towards you is new today (Lam. 3:23)! But also keep this in mind that God’s Word is very clear about the process of promotion. Would you like to be promoted with a new home? Manage the one you have to the best of your ability. How about a promotion at work? Show up on time and give it your best effort. Are you needing a boost in energy? Be aware of the fuel you’re putting in your body and the amount of exercise and sleep you’re getting.

Each day is a new opportunity. Take time to get before the Lord and ask Him which areas He would like you to steward better. The result of your diligence and obedience will be a promotion of blessing!

Matt. 25:23 ”His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Mal. 3:10  “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Foundations

Foundations

Never in our lives do we need to forget our roots, the foundation from which we build our lives on. More specifically our life in Him. 

As a child will learned the song Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. As we grow up and our mind becomes more developed we feel the need to be more complex creatures with more complex thoughts and deeper and greater revelation to prove our value and credibility among other people. And although we are called to grow and build on the knowledge and revelation we have we should never forget our foundation. 

The revelation that Jesus loves me and we know that because the Bible tells us so, is the root of everything that we build on. Just like when Peter got a revelation of who Jesus was and Jesus told him this revelation is what I'm gonna build my church on, it is still true today that we are building on that foundation.

Remind yourself of your foundation, go back to the basics, and don't forget what you are building on. 

Over it? Or under it?

Over it? Or under it?

John 16:33 

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy; I have overcome the world.” My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding. 

Look it says "so that in me, you can have perfect peace."

Ask yourself some questions. 

What is peace? 

Do you have peace?

Do you have peace in all areas of your life?  

How do you get peace?  

(I'm serious ask them and be honest)

God never created us to be underneath anything. He wants us victorious. He wants is to be overcomers in all areas of our lives. 

Do you wake up and go to work and wonder "why am I here? Why do I do this?" Do you even like your job?

Do you look at you kids and wonder; "Am I doing well?  Why don't they listen or respect me? Check out that family, now they have it all together" 

And we put ourself underneath. What do I mean?  Well when all your doing is looking at yourself you pile on these pressures. You are constantly fighting against everything. 

At work when things go wrong or you start to slip in performance you buckle up and put on your big girl (or boy) pants and you work harder. You stay longer you go in on your days off 

In your health goals when you put on a few pounds you spend your days counting calories, carbs, sugar, etc.  When your kids start acting up or you family starts fighting more you read more books, set more rules and demand more time together. 

None of these things are wrong but where we miss it, and the reason we always put ourself "underneath", is we rarely turn to Jesus and say "what do you think". 

Look back up at the verse it says "so that IN ME.....". That's it!!!!!!! That's the answer!!!!!!! Our peace is in Him!  

So how do we know how to be "in Him"?  This verse has changed my entire life!  So I wanna share it with you. 

Matthew 6:31-33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Be about His kingdom!  

What's His kingdom? It's people. 

So seek first (His people) and all these things will be added. 

When you encounter those questions we covered earlier, don't just put on your big girl (boy) pants and fight. Instead, turn to God and ask. Who????  If we feel under it and not over it, it's a pretty good indication we are focused too much on ourselfs and not His kingdom. 

ASK WHO?  

Work? Who can I train and develop to take my place when I promote?

Healthy? Who can I help to get healthy and well by encouraging and supporting?

Family? Am I honoring them or trying to control them?  

I promise if you do this then things in your life begin to fall into place.  Don't take my word for it, it's biblical!  It's truth!  It's spiritual law!!!!!!!!  Study it out for yourself. 

Now that's victory.