Use Your Resources #252

1 Corinthians 4:2 “In his case, moreover it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” Luke 16:10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” Luke 16:11 “If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you.” Luke 16:12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own.”

Who or what owns you? It has been said that if you cannot give away what you have; you don’t own it, it owns you. There is a story of a man in the church that had a wealthy relative who died and left him a million dollars. About the same time he had a severe heart attack and was in the hospital in critical condition. No one wanted to tell him about the money for fear it would cause him to have another heart attack. Feeling he needed to know the pastor of his church was selected to tell him. The pastor went into the room and talked of sports, weather, and whatever until he finally placed this question to the man. “What would you do if someone gave you a million dollars?” Without hesitancy the man said, “Pastor I would give half of it to the church” whereupon the pastor had a heart attack and died.

Remember this; God owns everything. You are given the honor and responsibility to be a steward of what he gives to you. To be a good steward of what God has entrusted to you you can chose at least six things to do with it. You can give it away, you can save it, you can spend it, you can protect it, you can hoard it, or you can invest it.

God has promised to those who are faithful stewards of anything that He will bless you. The blessing does not necessarily mean an accumulation of more. It can mean the blessing of giving to see God use whatever you have given away help others. It can mean protection from God of all you have.

It is a real joy to be a faithful steward. Use the resources God has entrusted to you to help others. Use the resources to know that God receives glory from the faithful steward. Your goal of bringing glory to God is accomplished as you express your faithfulness.

_________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from the beautiful Rim Country of AZ

What a fun week!! Camping with Collin, Johnny, Justin, Mandy and Sandy was an adventure. Johnny and Justin decided 4:30 AM was the getting up time while you are camping. Johnny's final comment at the end was, "Camping Fun!" That was worth missing a little sleep on my part. Collin took a friend, Tristan. The two of them had a great time. We managed to catch fish, not many though. For those of you in the Valley of the Sun my condolences. The temperature was in the 70's. Beats the 100 plus you have experienced this week. 

Sunday I will be preaching at West Glendale Baptist Church. Pastor Don will be missing in order to attend a graduation. I am so glad for the opportunity. The following week I will be at the East Verde Baptist Church in Whispering Pines. That is about 10 miles up on the Rim from Payson, AZ. June 30 I will be at the First Baptist Church of Eldon, MO. The following Sunday I will be with my good friend, Roger Marshall, at his church at Second Baptist Church of Lebanon, MO. 

While in MO and AR Sandy and I will get to see our families and friends. Sunday the 30th my extended family will gather for a family reunion of sorts. It will be my first time to join one of those great gatherings in 18 years. Really looking forward to the time together. 

God is so good. Everyday I am grateful that He has spared my life for times like these. Seven years ago today I was recovering from the surgery that revealed my liver full of cancer. It was four years ago that I was in the hospital with a liver abscess, high fever, septic shock, grand mall seizure, excessive edema, and in general not a good situation. I thank God that I now can do some of the things I enjoy. The cancer is still present and growing. The stent that was placed in the left lobe of the liver is currently working well. The doctors tell me the right lobe is nonfunctioning. Living on half of a liver is very possible. 

I pray that God will give you added strength, encouragement, and hope. Life has its ups and downs and the great promise of God is that He will always give us the grace to see you through. His grace is sufficient.

Blessing to all of you.  ~ DGW