Friends,
I found myself thinking about the idea of stewardship this morning. What do we do with the physical, intellectual, financial, material, spiritual, etc. blessings that God has so abundantly given us?
Certainly we have heard that we are supposed to tithe, or give 10%, of our finances to God, and I believe most of us truly desire to do that. And most of us understand that tithing is more than just our money. But what do we do with that? How you keep track of your giving outside of your checkbook? What counts? Who decides?
When you read scripture, you can find numerous times where God reminds us that His greatest desire is our heart more than our sacrifices (offerings). Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (NIV) Some people, when they hear about God and/or the Bible, think about all of the rules that are laid out for their life. But before He receives our obedience, God first wants our hearts, to know that we are truly striving to live each and every day for Him.
There are many things every day that I do (or try to do) for Annie. I do them not out of fear, but because I love her and am committed to her. But even more than that, I believe it is important that through my words and my actions she know she is a top priority in my life. I’m not just ticking to-do items off my list; I am seeking to express my love for her in practical ways every day.
In the same way, I don’t believe God wants us to do things for Him just so we can check them off our list…no, I believe He is looking for us to live our lives in a way that show He is a top priority in our lives. This is one of the reasons why worship, Bible study, prayer, etc. are so important. God will not make Himself a top priority in your life…that part is up to you. How important is God in your life? Does He know that?
Blessings
Pastor Bryon
