With our emphasis on knowing God’s Word in 2018, we’re excited for this new series on spiritual disciplines. Each month, we’ll unpack a different spiritual discipline, defining it as well as offering some ideas for practical application!
How many times a day do you use the words “my” or “mine”?
That’s mine, but I guess you can borrow it.
I wish they would respect my time.
Those were my ideas first.
I worked really hard for that money and it’s mine.
As Christians, we often forget that none of these things are ours to begin with. God has entrusted these things to us, and expects us to steward and manage them well. He gives us time to spend – not just on what we want to do, but to help meet the needs of others. God has made our minds to think – to be creative and dream for His glory. He’s given us money to be responsible and obedient with.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.” Luke 12:48b (CSB)
Here are some good questions to ask yourself when it comes to stewardship:
- Are you being intentional with what you’ve been given?
- Are you generous with your giving, or does it feel painful or fearful to be generous?
- Do you ever ask God how you should spend your time, or are you trying to manage it on your own?
- When’s the last time you acknowledged that God is the one who made you creative or wise?
How did you answer those questions? Was it hard or easy? Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of how well you steward what you’ve been given, there’s always room for improvement. It’s a spiritual discipline that will constantly need work because we’re human, and it’s really easy for us to think of things as ours, and to take credit for things that we couldn’t have done on our own.
Your attitude in matters of stewardship is seen by the people around you – your friends, spouse, kids, co-workers, and the people in line at the grocery store. How are you talking about the things that you’ve been given to manage or steward? Is it in a way that brings honor to God?
We’re all going to be accountable for how well we use our gifts, skills, talents, time, finances, and lives. Are we living in light of the kingdom of God and using what we’ve been given to bring glory to Him? If we’re being really honest, some of us are taking the credit and taking control. We have an incredible opportunity to point everything we’re responsible for back to Him, but it’s up to us as to whether or not we’ll actually do it. How can you be a good steward of what you’ve been given today?
“Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (CSB)
Mary Margaret West serves as the Girls Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources, and has a Master of Arts in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She served several churches as a Girls’ Minister, and teenage girls and the women who lead them are her favorite group of people on the planet. Mary Margaret has a passion to equip girls and women to dive deeply into God’s word and live out their calling. She also hosts Lifeway Women’s {MARKED} podcast. Mary Margaret and her husband Jonathan live in Franklin, Tennessee.