Weekend, May 10 & 11
The Five Ships of Opportunity: Stewardship
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10
Recommended Reading
1 Peter 4:7-11 [ iz3.me]
If you've taken a cruise, you know the value of a good steward, someone who tends to your comfort. The steward keeps your cabin clean, makes your bed, provides fresh linen, replaces needed supplies, and arranges your towels into animal designs. The title "steward" comes from an Old English word for someone who oversees the house or hall of another.
Watch This Week's TV Broadcast [ iz3.me]
In Christian terminology, it's common for believers to think of themselves as stewards. We're sailing through the solar system on the good ship Earth, and we feel so at home here we can almost think it belongs to us. But it's not our ship; it belongs to the Owner. We're placed on board to care for what belongs to Him, and that often means serving others.
As stewards, we acknowledge that nothing really belongs to us. Whether our houses or homes, our gifts or talents, our opportunities or time -- we're simply servants. Stewardship provides an opportunity to keep things in perspective as we serve the Captain of the ship and our fellow passengers until we reach the heavenly harbor.
The first requisite of stewardship is to give ourselves to God. Thus, a logical recognition of God's absolute ownership should follow.
Stephen F. Olford
Read-Thru-the-Bible
2 Chronicles 8-16 [ iz3.me] |
