"My times are in your hand..." (Psalm 31:15, ESV).
"My future is in your hands..." (Ibid., NLT).
"The course of my life is in Your power..." (Ibid., HCSB).
" ...Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing..." (Zech. 8:13, NLT).
"...So I shall save you and you shall be a blessing..." (Ibid., NKJV).
"I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt..." (Gen. 12:3, NLT).
Some people are part of the problem or a detriment to others (prodigal, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, means being wasteful or lost), while others are a blessing and asset to have as a company, or being part of the solution! I'm not necessarily talking about being the life of the party, but about being a conduit or channel of God's grace and blessings. We all have gifts given as the Holy Spirit wills (cf. 1 Cor. 12:11,18) and are responsible for their faithful stewardship.
"My future is in your hands..." (Ibid., NLT).
"The course of my life is in Your power..." (Ibid., HCSB).
" ...Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing..." (Zech. 8:13, NLT).
"...So I shall save you and you shall be a blessing..." (Ibid., NKJV).
"I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt..." (Gen. 12:3, NLT).
Some people are part of the problem or a detriment to others (prodigal, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, means being wasteful or lost), while others are a blessing and asset to have as a company, or being part of the solution! I'm not necessarily talking about being the life of the party, but about being a conduit or channel of God's grace and blessings. We all have gifts given as the Holy Spirit wills (cf. 1 Cor. 12:11,18) and are responsible for their faithful stewardship.
I'm talking about any type of resource: time; money; talent; spiritual gifts; property and possessions; real estate; opportunity; friendships; relationships; business associates and colleagues; education or training; knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from God, ad infinitum. In God's eyes were all richly endowed and once we've experienced it we want to pass it on! Be the one to make a difference! Stand up and be counted, don't sit on the sidelines, instead, fly your Christian colors!
God only blesses us in order to be a blessing to others, not just to hoard for ourselves: a pastor is given discernment and insight into the Word to give a message to enlighten the flock, not just for his own edification. All of us are blessed by God: some in all ways, but all in some ways (cf. Psalm 145:9)--God even blesses and prospers the wicked. If we are successful, we owe it to God, it's not our own doing (cf. Isa. 30:18; Psalm 84:11). Deut. 8:17-18 says plainly, "He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the LORD your God, He is the one who gives you the power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant..." (NLT). Isaiah 48:17, ESV, says, "..'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.'" The trouble with most people is that they give themselves credit for success and blame God for failure (cf. Prov. 19:3, NLT, says, "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.").
We are not called to be a burden on society (everyone can pay back something from his blessings), but to find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in contributing our share of the pie that God has given us--the cards dealt us in the form of provision or blessings. If a person has a lot of time on his hands, for instance, though he is poor, may find fulfillment in making use of it for the Lord (redeeming the time) and investing it in others. Seize the moment! We can do only a few things with time, and God allows all of us our fair share, and they include: wasting it; making it; investing it; and spending it. In one sense we are all living on borrowed time! So spend it on something that will outlast you! Prayer, for example, is never a waste of time, but an investment with immediate and long-term dividends and payoffs.
When we make use of the gifts God does give us, He grants more accordingly. If you pass on insights God gives you, you will receive more! Faithful use of time grants more time also to use for God. Be a time manager! After all, the end result of our blessings should be to use them to invest in the kingdom of God. God blesses us financially so we can be financial support to those in need, to remember the poor, not to live lavishly or luxuriously. If you have a musical talent that is untapped, get with it, and invest it in the service of God! Using your spiritual gift faithfully will bring more opportunities and blessings. Some people have opportunities to witness to people of influence or the rich and famous, and God may honor them with fruit that can be a blessing to the church at large.
Zech. 8:13 says that God will save us in order that we can be a blessing! God has His glory in mind when we get saved and sees how to plant us for a harvest--so bloom where you are planted! Some people may wonder why God saved them; they may be the only ones that can reach a certain niche or group that relates to them. God may save a nurse to be a light to doctors! God may save a professor to be a light to his students! J. R. R. Tolkien was saved so he could bring his colleague, C. S. Lewis, to the Lord, who was a skeptic like Tolkien used to be, and they could relate to each other.
It is important for our mindset to realize that we are mere stewards of God's blessings (but this only makes sense to the faithful), and everything ultimately belongs to Him. This life is but a staging area to see how we handle God's grace and provision. It is also vital to realize that when we are faithful in our stewardship, we honor and bless God! According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the "chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Isaiah 49:3, ESV, promises, "...' You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'" We are all created for His glory in Isaiah 43:7, ESV: "[E]veryone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Bringing blessing to God is more than lip service, going through the motions, uttering empty phrases or vain repetitions, or mouthing the words, but living it out: the faith you have is the faith you show; our lives are to bring glory to God by being worthy of our Lord and our calling--showing faithfulness cannot be divorced from faith. Soli Deo Gloria!
God only blesses us in order to be a blessing to others, not just to hoard for ourselves: a pastor is given discernment and insight into the Word to give a message to enlighten the flock, not just for his own edification. All of us are blessed by God: some in all ways, but all in some ways (cf. Psalm 145:9)--God even blesses and prospers the wicked. If we are successful, we owe it to God, it's not our own doing (cf. Isa. 30:18; Psalm 84:11). Deut. 8:17-18 says plainly, "He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the LORD your God, He is the one who gives you the power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant..." (NLT). Isaiah 48:17, ESV, says, "..'I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.'" The trouble with most people is that they give themselves credit for success and blame God for failure (cf. Prov. 19:3, NLT, says, "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.").
We are not called to be a burden on society (everyone can pay back something from his blessings), but to find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in contributing our share of the pie that God has given us--the cards dealt us in the form of provision or blessings. If a person has a lot of time on his hands, for instance, though he is poor, may find fulfillment in making use of it for the Lord (redeeming the time) and investing it in others. Seize the moment! We can do only a few things with time, and God allows all of us our fair share, and they include: wasting it; making it; investing it; and spending it. In one sense we are all living on borrowed time! So spend it on something that will outlast you! Prayer, for example, is never a waste of time, but an investment with immediate and long-term dividends and payoffs.
When we make use of the gifts God does give us, He grants more accordingly. If you pass on insights God gives you, you will receive more! Faithful use of time grants more time also to use for God. Be a time manager! After all, the end result of our blessings should be to use them to invest in the kingdom of God. God blesses us financially so we can be financial support to those in need, to remember the poor, not to live lavishly or luxuriously. If you have a musical talent that is untapped, get with it, and invest it in the service of God! Using your spiritual gift faithfully will bring more opportunities and blessings. Some people have opportunities to witness to people of influence or the rich and famous, and God may honor them with fruit that can be a blessing to the church at large.
Zech. 8:13 says that God will save us in order that we can be a blessing! God has His glory in mind when we get saved and sees how to plant us for a harvest--so bloom where you are planted! Some people may wonder why God saved them; they may be the only ones that can reach a certain niche or group that relates to them. God may save a nurse to be a light to doctors! God may save a professor to be a light to his students! J. R. R. Tolkien was saved so he could bring his colleague, C. S. Lewis, to the Lord, who was a skeptic like Tolkien used to be, and they could relate to each other.
It is important for our mindset to realize that we are mere stewards of God's blessings (but this only makes sense to the faithful), and everything ultimately belongs to Him. This life is but a staging area to see how we handle God's grace and provision. It is also vital to realize that when we are faithful in our stewardship, we honor and bless God! According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the "chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Isaiah 49:3, ESV, promises, "...' You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'" We are all created for His glory in Isaiah 43:7, ESV: "[E]veryone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Bringing blessing to God is more than lip service, going through the motions, uttering empty phrases or vain repetitions, or mouthing the words, but living it out: the faith you have is the faith you show; our lives are to bring glory to God by being worthy of our Lord and our calling--showing faithfulness cannot be divorced from faith. Soli Deo Gloria!
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