“You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”
Robert Louis Stevenson“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:10
Over the last couple of weeks I have talked to several people who are dealing with the stuff left behind by parents. They had rooms and storage buildings full of possessions, many of them turned to junk after being forgotten in a dusty corner. Over the last several years I have been trying to rid myself of not only clutter, but also things I don’t use. I have developed a distaste for having things that don’t have a purpose, so I am in the process of assessing the things in my possession to either throw away, donate to charity, or share with someone who would actually use the item.
Yesterday’s sermon at church was on stewardship, and it reminded me of something I had been pondering on a deeper level. What am I doing with all that has been given me? How can I better use it in service to God? So as my author friends always say, start with your why.
Why?
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Love is all about giving, and it started with God. He loved us so much that He gave his Son so that we could have a relationship with Him in eternity (John 3:16). Everything we have comes from Him (James 1:17, Psalm 50:10). God put us in charge of his creation, so we are stewards not owners. When we give a tithe or an offering, we are like children who borrow money from their father so that they can buy a Father’s Day present.
What?
“And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”
Luke 16:17-20
As stewards of God, what do we do when we are blessed beyond measure? We can go one of two ways: hoard it like the steward in the verses above or share it with those around us. Sometimes God gives us blessings to hold onto for the greater good, like Joseph in Egypt preparing for the famine. Sometimes He gives us extra to help someone else in need. There’s a joy in sharing with others that builds a loving heart, and there is a sense of humility that comes when we are on the receiving end. One keeps us from being greedy, and the other keeps us from being proud.
How?
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1
However, stewardship is more than just sharing money or possessions, it is offering up to God all that we are to Him. This includes everything that God has given to us, such as talents, spiritual gifts, knowledge, and skills.
I heard someone once say that when they finished their time on earth, they wanted to have used up all God had given them. I like that idea, and as I assess what I have, I want to look for ways to use it for God. Whether it is a spiritual gift or a material possession, I want it to mean something. I’m just getting started because this is a lifelong project, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
Let’s try to be better stewards and make the first step by answering these questions: What has God given you? How can you use it for His glory?
Your message is a good reminder for those of us (like me) who’ve felt the nudge to get rid of some of the clutter–in our homes and in our minds. Thank you, Linda.
Thanks Katherine!