Last week, we started talking about stewardship, and what God desires for us as His stewards. Today, we will continue this study and dive more deeply into how we can apply this principle to our lives each day.
At Faith Church, we are taught 4 Key Principles of Stewardship:
- God owns everything, you own nothing.
- God entrusts you with everything you have.
- You can either increase or diminish what God has given you; God wants you to increase it.
- You can be called into account at any time, and it may be today.
Today, we will be focusing on the second of these principles, discovering how Vision of Hope seeks to follow God’s calling in this way and how YOU can be involved!
The Bible teaches us that God entrusts us with everything we have. Whether the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:2), many spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), or material things (Philippians 4:19), it is God who provides, and He wants us to use these things well.
One great example from the Word of God comes from Galatians 5:13-16: For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. In this passage, we see that through Christ’s sacrifice as the payment for our sins, we are now free – free from the power of sin and the burdensome Old Testament law as the only way to a right relationship with God. However, God’s Word teaches that this gift of freedom has been entrusted to us to be used to please Him. The world today often sees freedom as, “I can to whatever makes me feel good,” but when we have been entrusted with saving faith in Christ, God calls us to then live as free people in the way He wants us to. This freedom has come from Him and is simply entrusted to us, and so He is the one who determines how we are to handle His gifts.
This concept not only helps us to re-evaluate how we are using the things He has entrusted to us, but also is a show to the great mercy of God. The Creator of the universe who is perfectly holy and almighty actually cares about our puny little lives enough to entrust things to us! How awesome is that? Psalm 8:3-6 sums this us well: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty. You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. What a merciful and loving God we serve!
At Vision of Hope, we seek to put this principle into practice with the many things God has given to us. One practical example is with our finances – they come from God and He gets to determine how we use them. We know that His Word tells us to be generous and happy givers, and to give to those in need (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). That’s why, even though it costs us about $1,400/month to have a resident in our program, we only charge then $400/month. That’s why we cover the rest of the cost – because we believe in that way we are bringing glory to God with what He has entrusted to us.
This great application of stewardship surely cannot be done without the generosity of others as well. As YOU give to our ministry, you are allowing us to them give and provide for many women in need. Will you consider being a good steward and supporting good stewardship by donating to our ministry? Click here for more information, and stay tuned for more information about the 4 Principles of Stewardship.