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The
33 Laws of Stewardship |
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The
Stewardship Commission has been studying the meaning of stewardship.
"The 33 Laws of Stewardship", a book we are using for that purpose
says, "The 'portfolio' for which we are responsible includes a wide
range of components, and God's expectation is that we make the most of each
one. Think of all the 'assets' you have under management: your money, your
time, your possessions, your opportunities, your influence, your
relationships and much more. And to this long list can be added the spiritual
assets with which we are entrusted: the Gospel of Christ, the mystery of
godliness, the secret things of God." This really stretched my view of
stewardship. Perhaps it will do the same for you. |
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Added
to this is a transliteration of a lesson from Our Daily Bread as follows: |
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Henry
left his house for church one Sunday just as his neighbor was loading his
golf clubs into his car. "Henry", the neighbor called, "come
play golf with me today," Henry answered firmly, "I always go to
church on the Lord's Day." |
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After
a pause the golfer said, "You know, Henry, I've often wondered about
your church and I really admire your faithfulness. But I've invited you to
play golf with me seven or eight times, and you've never invited me to go to
church with you." |
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Ouch!
To all the "Henry's" in today's church, Jesus gives the same
challenge He gave to the Pharisees: "I desire mercy
and not sacrifice" Matthew 9:13. In other words he want us to show mercy and love
to those who need salvation, not just go through the motions of our own
religious beliefs. Jesus further explained His mercy by saying, "I did
not come to call the righteous, but the sinners, to repentance." |
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Consider
the destiny in the after life of people without Christ. Let this stir us to
compassion greater than our comfortable routine or our fear of rejection.
Pray for several people or families near you and ask God to love them through
you. Earn the right through friendship to invite them to church. Pray for the
grace to do so without putting a guilt trip on them. |
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We
are to be God's ambassadors to the world that doesn't know Him. In so doing
we become good stewards of the wonderful gift of salvation He has so richly
given us. |
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Stewardship Commission |
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