¿Que es Grateful Living?
Whenever we hear the word “Stewardship” most of us immediately think about money and giving. The noun “steward” is more expansive and describes a person who acts as an agent or someone who looks after the property and financial affairs of another. In today’s terminology, a steward is like a manager—assigned to faithfully handle assets that belong to someone else. In our relationship with God, being a steward is a way of life that places The Lord firmly at the center.
Stewardship encompasses all areas of life. God cares about every facet of our existence; our relationships, health, the way we use our time, wealth and planet. Stewardship isn’t so much about ‘giving’ money (although important), as it is about the transformation we experience when Jesus is first in our lives. Stewardship, in fact, is a gift and position of responsibility to God, each other and the planet. Above all, let’s remember that Stewardship is a great honor and “…not about what God wants from you but rather, what He wants for you…” We are all encouraged to be committed stewards in at least four crucial areas of life:
Our Time, Ecclesiastes 3:1; Ephesians 5:15-16
Our Health, 3 John 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Our Relationships Ephesians 6:1-3; Hebrews 10:24-25
Our Finances Romans 13:8; Proverbs 21:20 Proverbs 27:3
Find more information at nadstewardship.org/resources
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OFFERTORY READINGS
English
Local Church Budget
One time a friend of mine came over to my house, and I wanted to bake a dessert for him. He had an allergy to one of the ingredients, so I hastily used a substitute that I was unsure of. If you have ever baked, you know that even changing one ingredient can change the taste, texture, and really the entire baked good if you’re not careful. I learned, on that day, that this ingredient should not have been swapped out! Needless to say, tasting this dessert was not a pleasant experience. Similarly, God’s word gives us words of wisdom for us to follow, and Proverbs 1:5 says, “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (NIV). What wise, Biblical knowledge have you learned lately? Have you taken the time to share it with someone? If you have not, take some time today or this next week to pass it along. Today’s offering is for the local church budget. Let’s continue to turn our church into a place where we can come together and grow in wisdom and knowledge of God. The more we study and learn together, the better equipped we can be to meet the needs of those who are around us.
By Heather Thompson Day
Spanish
Presupuesto de la iglesia local
Una vez vino un amigo a casa y quise prepararle un postre. Como era alérgico a uno de los ingredientes, apresurada utilicé un sustituto del que no estaba segura si funcionaría. Si alguna vez intentaron hacer algo similar, saben que incluso cambiar un ingrediente puede modificar el sabor, la textura, y en realidad todo el producto final. Ese día aprendí que no debía sustituir ese ingrediente y no hace falta decir que degustar este postre no fue una experiencia agradable. De manera similar, la Biblia nos da palabras de sabiduría para que las sigamos, y Proverbios 1:5 dice: “Escuche esto el sabio, y aumente su saber; reciba dirección el entendido” (NVI). ¿Qué conocimiento sabio y bíblico ha aprendido últimamente? ¿Dedicó un momento para compartirlo con alguien? Si no lo ha hecho, tome un tiempo hoy o la próxima semana, para compartirlo. La ofrenda de hoy es para el presupuesto de nuestra iglesia. Sigamos haciendo de ella un lugar donde podamos reunirnos y crecer en sabiduría y conocimiento en Dios. Cuanto más estudiemos y aprendamos juntos, mejor preparados estaremos para satisfacer las necesidades de los que nos rodean.
Por Heather Thompson Day
