Page 31 - Lighthouse of Hope Magazine

STEWARDSHIP: STEWARD-
SHIP

&
A WAY OF LIFE INVESTMENT

Excerpt Sermon by Dr. Jeannette C. Holmes-Vann
Edited by Jacqueline Bourne

I n 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover, it is required of a
steward that a man be found faithful. Everyone
who has come to the Lord, has become a steward. God
has given every one of us something and He wants us to
occupy until he returns. God wants us to dispense, dis-
pose, invest and exercise what he has given to us. Stew-
ardship people have an opportunity to help, disciple, and
maximize potential. As stewards, we ought to provoke
each other to jealousy. We show each other how to get the
maximum out of what God has invested in us. God has
said he would do a new thing. That means we’re beginning
to have a new testimony. Instead of being timid and shy,
we become bolder and more courageous. We’re not afraid
to let anyone know what our God can do. We know be-
yond the shadow of a doubt that we have what we need IN STEWARDSHIP
in order to have an abundant life. Because we choose to
obey God, we are going to grow; we’re not going to be the WE DISCOVER THAT GOD
same next year as we are this year. God said he would do IS IMPARTIAL WITH HIS
a new thing! But he also said that “you haven’t blessed me
with sacrifice.” GIFT OF GRACE

n stewardship, we truly – on the basis of We will refuse to go back
discover that God is him telling us that we to the level where we
I impartial with his are stewards --that he were prior to this under-
gift of grace. In other has entrusted me with taking.
words, God’s promis- all his goods. And he

es have been given to told us to occupy. He rue stewards are e do

every believer. Through told us to occupy so we stewards with ex-
not
the gift of grace, God have it all in our midst. T citement! We refuse
is not a respecter of And so, we’re going to to talk defeated, or even W add
persons. He doesn’t put God to the test. I’m act like we don’t have.
bless us on the basis of talking about believ- There is no such thing God to our
our jobs, or how much ing for something you as lack to us. Not when life; rather our
knowledge we have. I’m have never seen before. he says the cattle on a life becomes
not talking about do- God doesn’t want us to 1,000 hills belongs to
ing something based on be pinching off of this him. If God has it, I have his life. I’m
what you make on your and that…something is it. He never runs out so thinking like
job. Sacrifice isn’t done wrong! This is not the I’m never broke! I would
on the basis of what you way God said he was never confess that. What him, I’m even
have, it’s done on the going to do this thing. He has belongs to me! beginning
basis of what you don’t Now either he meant it Sacrifice is not unload-
have. God is speaking to or he didn’t mean it- so ing jobs, and burdens, to look like
everybody.Don’t start it must be something we and responsibilities and him. Through
thinking about taking are not doing, God said bills on anyone. That’s
from your abundance in we are not honoring him not what it’s all about. sacrificing this
the bank. You’re miss- with sacrifice. Sacri- Sacrifice is a lifestyle comes about.
ing it if that’s what you ficing causes us to get that radiates love and
see. I’m talking about God’s best. We will nev- service and growth
er be the same again. and commitment..

LOH Magazine / February 2016 31