In keeping with the Vision and Mission of the church, God is calling us into a relationship with Him. Our Vision states that we are to “Put God First;” and the mission adds a deeper understanding by stating, “Inviting members to trust God as owner and provider, and to partner in His final mission through regular and systematic giving.”

It reminds me of the hymn, “Trust and Obey,” which states:

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

There is no better joy to know than that we are in partnership with the Lord; and being stewards of the 4 T’s (our time, talent, temple and treasure) is the vehicle. We should spend time first thing in the morning to commune and talk with the Lord and wait to hear Him speak to us. Psalm 63:1 says, “Early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee….”

We should use the talents we have been given for the furtherance of God’s kingdom. In 1 Peter 4:10, we read: “As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” And 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink….”

We should exercise the body, His holy temple, in the open air (1 Corinthians 6:20: “For ye are bought with a price…”); and finally, we use our treasure to glorify Him. We ought to return a faithful tithe for the furtherance of the gospel; and give a systematic, sacrificial, freewill offering for maintenance and missions (Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is…”). What better feeling than to know we are in partnership with a covenant-keeping God.

The wise and unselfish use of our life is the greatest example of joyous living in harmony with God. This involves giving of our time, talent, exercising our body temple, and giving of our treasure. However, the Lord has one requirement and that is for us to give out of a heart of love, willingly and not grudgingly (Exodus 25:2: “of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering…”).

The joys of stewardship are not without tests and trials, but these pale in comparison to the crown of life that awaits us when we are saved in God’s kingdom. You may ask, “Why does God test us?” He simply wants to know if He can trust us with a body that will never wear out, material possessions which surpass comprehension, abilities beyond imagination, and time that will never end.

May God help us to experience the joys of stewardship, as we remain faithful stewards until He comes. Maranatha!

Article by Elder Osmond LaCroix, Stewardship Leader, Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church.


This article was extracted from the Logos for March 6, 2021. 

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