DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: Stuff

DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY: Stuff

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

 

The following is from notes taken and thoughts provoked during and later review of Pastor Paul Marine’s Sunday sermon.

 

Genesis [MKJV] 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Romans [MKJV] 1:20-22 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

  Once again defining stewardship: Being responsible for stuff.

  Take note of the initial order and authorization recorded in Genesis 1:28 and 2:15, and then later to Noah in 9:1. Is this unchanged? Are God’s created beings any less answerable today than those many years ago? Though we live in free will under and by God’s grace . . . are the natural consequences of good or bad stewardship cancelled?

  I am told by some that these directives are Old Testament, with emphasis on “old”, and this New Testament age with its many unique stewardship issues is a different era requiring a flexible modifying approach. A few acquaintances holding an open view of God say He couldn’t foresee our present dilemmas.

  Really!?!

  Reading God’s Word in the New Testament I know He sees all, this including obvious and/or hidden problems Nebraska’s professional college football team is having.

  For myself I find every day a challenge to be a steward pleasing in the eyes of God.

  Edna has graciously pointed out to me several times that I have a lot of stuff. So a few months ago I began, still am, practicing MORE OUT THAN IN and have been able to stick to it though I confess to it being excising surgery at times.

  God wants us to be good stewards of stuff. But is core issue really about stuff, or is it about relationship with God, family, friends, acquaintances, community?

EBB4