Stewardship

Does God really care about how we spend our money?

Hi GEM girls! I used to think that as long as I gave tithe and offering, it didn't matter what I did with the rest of my money. After all, I had already returned to God His portion. Right?

My family and I have recently finished reading Counsels on Stewardship by Ellen G. White, and she outlined many different topics and guidelines on money that I had never really paid attention to before. The first topic was on blessings.

When God bestows blessings on us, we are in turn to bless others. And God continually blesses us with good things. "The power of God is manifested in the beating of the heart, in the action of the lungs, and in the living currents that circulate through the thousand different channels of the body. We are indebted to Him for every moment of existence, and for all the comforts of life. The powers and abilities that elevate man above the lower creation, are the endowment of the Creator. He loads us with His benefits. We are indebted to Him for the food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe. Without His special providence, the air would be filled with pestilence and poison. He is a bountiful benefactor and preserver." CS 17.1, 17.2.

The second thing I learned was that there was more I could be doing with my money to help spread the gospel. Now I'll admit, I do tend to save money just so I can spend it on things I honestly don't need. But it took me a while to realize that I wasn't being a good steward of my money. Even though I return tithe and offering as a thanks to God, the rest of the money is still technically his! And as God's steward, I need to use all my talents, including my money, for His glory.

"However large, however small the possessions of any individual, let him remember that it is his only trust. For his strength, skill, time, talents, opportunities, and means, he must render an account to God. This is an individual work; God gives to us, that we may become like Him, generous, noble, beneficent, by giving to others. Those who, forgetful of their divine mission, seek only to save or spend in the indulgence of pride or selfishness, may secure the gains and pleasures of this world; but in God's sight, estimated by their spiritual attainments, they are poor, wretched, blind, naked." CS 22.2.

As members of this fallen human race, we are prone to selfishness. But with the help of Jesus Christ, we can become more and more unselfish with our actions and desires. I'll end with this last paragraph. "Christ came to this world to reveal the love of God. His followers are to continue the work which He began. Let us strive to help and strengthen one another. Seeking the good of others is the way in which true happiness can be found. Man does not work against his own interest by loving God and his fellow man. The more unselfish his spirit, the happier he is, because he is fulfilling God's purpose for him. The breath of God is breathed through him, filling him with gladness. To him life is a sacred trust, precious in his sight, because (it is) given by God to be spent in ministering to others. The Review and Herald, June 25, 1908.

GEM girls, as we strive to become more like Jesus, let us also bless others as God has so generously blessed us.

XOXO,