Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Stewardship
Shannon Thomas
Long Island MTC, NY
4 Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money offered as
sacred donations that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for
which each person is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the
money from the voluntary offerings brought into the house of the Lord, 5 let
the priests receive from each of the donors; and let them repair the house
wherever any need of repairs is discovered.”
Why do you go to church? Have you ever asked yourself that question?
In his book “Courageous Leadership,” Bill Hybels describes the church as incredibly powerful and a place that can make tremendous impact: “There is nothing like the local church when it's working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness."
This is the church. The church is not a casual meeting place on Sunday, but a place set apart to worship a holy God and a place where we boldly proclaim the only news that can impact a person’s eternal salvation, the Gospel. In an ever-changing culture, the church remains as a constant place of hope in a deteriorating world, showing the world that there’s so much more to life than mere worldly pleasures. If this then is the purpose of the church, how are we as believers taking part in ensuring that our church is aligned with the vision of the first century church outlined in Acts chapter 2? Do we as believers feel a burden on our hearts to see our church grow and flourish? Or are we complacent with the state of church and merely come to church to solely receive? How are you impacting and contributing to your church?
In today’s passage, we see the impact stewardship can have in God’s place of worship. Throughout the Old Testament, the temple was seen as a place set apart to solely worship God. However in King Joash’s time, the temple was broken and in need of repair because it was neglected by its previous leaders. King Joash, however, made it a priority to rebuild the temple because he knew to whom the temple was for, and the importance it had in the society. King Joash stewarded his position and resources to collect money to rebuild the place of worship to ensure that God’s temple would be restored.
Similarly, each of us are placed in the seasons we are currently in for a reason. For as a long as you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Whether you’re unemployed, a student, single or married, each of us are called to glorify God in the positions we are in. God can use you, no matter what stage of life you are in, to make a difference. We as believers are called to steward our gifts and positions so that we can greatly impact the church and the world around us.
Why do you go to church? Have you ever asked yourself that question?
In his book “Courageous Leadership,” Bill Hybels describes the church as incredibly powerful and a place that can make tremendous impact: “There is nothing like the local church when it's working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and offers truth to the confused. It provides resources for those in need and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. Whatever the capacity for human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness."
This is the church. The church is not a casual meeting place on Sunday, but a place set apart to worship a holy God and a place where we boldly proclaim the only news that can impact a person’s eternal salvation, the Gospel. In an ever-changing culture, the church remains as a constant place of hope in a deteriorating world, showing the world that there’s so much more to life than mere worldly pleasures. If this then is the purpose of the church, how are we as believers taking part in ensuring that our church is aligned with the vision of the first century church outlined in Acts chapter 2? Do we as believers feel a burden on our hearts to see our church grow and flourish? Or are we complacent with the state of church and merely come to church to solely receive? How are you impacting and contributing to your church?
In today’s passage, we see the impact stewardship can have in God’s place of worship. Throughout the Old Testament, the temple was seen as a place set apart to solely worship God. However in King Joash’s time, the temple was broken and in need of repair because it was neglected by its previous leaders. King Joash, however, made it a priority to rebuild the temple because he knew to whom the temple was for, and the importance it had in the society. King Joash stewarded his position and resources to collect money to rebuild the place of worship to ensure that God’s temple would be restored.
Similarly, each of us are placed in the seasons we are currently in for a reason. For as a long as you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Whether you’re unemployed, a student, single or married, each of us are called to glorify God in the positions we are in. God can use you, no matter what stage of life you are in, to make a difference. We as believers are called to steward our gifts and positions so that we can greatly impact the church and the world around us.
PRAYER
Father, we ask that you
would burden our hearts for those in and outside of the church. Would you
reveal the gifts that you have given us, and teach us how to steward them for
Your glory. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
“The world asks: “What does a person own?” God asks, “How does a person use what he or she has been given?”
“The world asks: “What does a person own?” God asks, “How does a person use what he or she has been given?”