The Obligations of a Steward, Part III

“...he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” Luke 12:44

We are stewards of material things. Understand, the purpose of making a steward responsible for ‘things’ was to make sure the needs of the household were met according to the intent and purpose of the owner.
Who are we? We are stewards!
Who is the owner? He is, the Lord Jesus Christ!
What do we own? Nothing!
What does He own? Everything!
Who are we accountable to? The Lord!

God gives to us to meet our needs, and to reach this world with the gospel through His church. Giving according to the intent and purpose of God, is at the heart of the steward’s responsibility. God is the great, gracious, generous giver. God’s stewards are to follow the example of the Lord, and give generously and we are accountable to God for the way we use His things.

The steward in this parable is accountable to his master for the way he used the master’s resources. If the master comes and finds him faithful, he will be entrusted with more. If he is unfaithful, he will be severely punished.

The same principle is found in other parables of our Lord. The Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:24-30 and the Parable of the Pound - Luke 19:11-30.

The Obligations of a Steward, Part II

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under
compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship
entrusted to me.” I Corinthians 9:16-17

We started yesterday looking at the obligations of a steward, and saw that we are stewards of life and one another.

We are stewards of the gospel, Matthew 28:19-20. As God’s stewards, we are to be responsible managers, faithful proclaimers, and conscientious teachers of the truth He has entrusted to us.

We are stewards of spiritual gifts. “As each one has received a special gift,
employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace
of God.” I Peter 4:10

There is nothing about private gifts in Romans 12:6-8 and I Corinthians 1:12-14. The gifts were given to the body for encouragement, edification and evangelism.

We all have freely received gifts of God’s grace. All are to faithfully use
these gifts, according to the intent of the Giver, to serve others and glorify
God. I Peter 4:7-11

Dear Lord, help us to be faithful to use what You have given us to glorify You and bless others.

The Obligations of a Steward

“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” I Cor 4:1

Just exactly what are we stewards of? What are we responsible for?

We are stewards of life. Stewards are responsible for the way they conduct themselves in relation to things and other persons. In Luke 12:45-46 the steward who abuses food, drink, and his authority over other persons is punished. Likewise in Titus 1:7-9 the church leader, “as the steward of God,” must not be: arrogant, despotic, self-willed, domineering, quick-tempered, greedy, or a drunkard.

All of life is given in trust from God to all people. As stewards, all people are responsible to God, and accountable to God, for how they live their lives. How we use or abuse: our time, influence, abilities, advantages, or our authority, are stewardship issues.

We are stewards of one another. In Luke 12:42, the steward is to care and watch over other servants, he is to use the Lord’s possessions to meet the needs of members of the Lord’s household. This implies that under the sovereign lordship of God, we are to use His things to meet the needs of His servants. Hebrews 12:24 says we are responsible to provoke one another to love and good works. We are responsible to create the climate for, and to issue the challenge to, spiritual growth. Eph. 4:11-16

Christians are supposed to grow, and the church leaders are to nurture them. Who are you nurturing right now in your life? Ask God to give you someone or a group that you can encourage and pour your life into!

The Identification of a Steward

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Luke 12:42

In the play, 'Death of a Salesman', Willie Lohman dies, his wife and sons are looking down into his open grave, one of his sons says, “He never knew who he was.”

A part of our identity is, we are stewards of God. We are his business managers placed here to honor and serve Him with all we have.

‘Steward’ means – To be given a trust. To be put in charge as a manager. To be a steward. To be a trustee. To be the overseer of an estate.

The steward or manager was always a slave, subject to a master. However, he was placed in charge of the other slaves throughout the master’s house or estate. He controlled the staff and ran the whole operation for the master. He was in charge of others, yet he himself was still a slave of the master. His work was not closely supervised; therefore he had to be trustworthy and responsible.

Who are the stewards? We all are. In Matthew 25 note - The Study of the Ten Virgins; Parable of the Talents; The Message of the Sheep and the Goats.

Stewardship involves a servant-lord relationship. In this relationship, stewards are placed in charge of other people and of the owner’s (lord’s) possessions. Stewards are responsible for their personal conduct and are accountable to the owner for every aspect of the stewardship relationship.

I’m A What?

“It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” I Cor. 4:2

Stewardship is an important teaching, prominent through out the Bible, it’s basic elements are found in Jesus’ parable of the faithful and unfaithful stewards in Luke 12:42-48.

Stewardship is to the biblical message, as yeast is to bread, it provides lift and action. And yet there are always those who think, we shouldn’t talk about money/stewardship.

I like what R. G. Lee wrote, “Some people say that we preachers talk too much about money. But notice that the three subjects about which Christ spoke most- wealth, hypocrisy, and the kingdom of God. Also that three of the Ten Commandments deal with money, that 16 of the 38 parables in the New Testament deal with money and stewardship, that one verse of every six in the Gospels deal with stewardship.
The great question is not, “How much do we give?” But rather, “How much do we keep for ourselves?”

Stewardship is important because like it or not, it’s what we are. While most of the time, people equate it to ‘just money,' it is far more than that.

God’s Most Precious Gift

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! II Cor 9:15

The story is told of a young man who fell in love with a young women. She was blind, but that didn’t bother him at all. As time passed and his love for her grew, he began to ask her to marry him.

She kept putting him off without ever really giving him a reason. Not being able to take it any longer, he pressed her for a reason. “Why won’t you marry me? You know that I love you. I promise always to love you.”

Seeing that he was not going to take “no” for an answer she told him, “As you know I am blind. I have determined not to marry anyone until I can see.” The young man went away feeling discouraged.

One day the young lady received a call from her doctor. She had been waiting for months for a compatible donor. The doctor called her telling her that such a donor had been found and they needed to schedule the transplant.

The day for the operation came. Everything went as planned and the follow-up therapy and visits went better than expected. She could see !

A few weeks after returning home, she received a visitor. It was this young man. As she greeted him at the door, invited him in, and they began to talk, he said, “I heard that you had received your sight. I came to ask you to marry me. You said that you could not marry anyone until you could see. Will you marry me now?”

The young woman was taken back by the proposal. As she looked at the man all she could think to say was, “You’re blind! I know what that’s like. I could never marry a blind man.” The young man turned and walked away broken-hearted.

A few weeks went by and she received a phone call from him. He asked her how she was doing in her continued recovery.

She told him that things were fine, and that she was continuing to adjust to being able to see. They continued to talk for a few more moments and then they hung up.

The next week she received a card from this man. As she opened it this is what she read, “Take good care of your eyes. Before they were yours they were mine.”
He had given her the most precious gift that he had out of his love for her, he gave her what she needed.

Isn’t that what God did for us? We were blind, lost in sin and He gave us Jesus, His most precious gift.

If you know Jesus personally give him away to someone, so their eyes might be opened. They need to see what you see. They need to know what you know. Don’t hide God’s gift, give Him away!

You Never Know...

“...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

One of my favorite illustrations is about a Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball, who thought he didn’t have much impact as a Christian. In 1858, he at least was able to lead a shoe clerk to Christ.

The clerk, Dwight L. Moody, became an evangelist, and in 1879 Moody awakened an evangelistic zeal in the heart of F.B. Meyer, the pastor of a small church in New England. Meyer preaching on a college campus, won a student named J. Wilbur Chapman to Christ. While Chapman was engaged in YMCA work, he employed a former baseball player named Billy Sunday to help with evangelistic meetings. Sunday held a series of services in Charlotte, North Caroline, where a group of local men were so enthused by the meetings that they planned another campaign. This time they brought preacher Mordecai F. Ham to town. During one of his meetings, a young man named Billy Graham yielded his life to Christ. Since then, millions have heard the gospel though Graham’s meetings.

You see, Edward Kimball started a ripple effect back in 1858 that continues to this very day. You, too, can have such an effect on others. In fact, if you are a Christian, you’re probably already making a greater impact than you think.

Who is it you’re sharing with?
Never say that God cannot use you. You get fit, God will hear you out, and you never know, you may lead the next Billy Graham to Christ.

Eternal Rewards

“Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:12

Imagine a World War II soldier, wounded while courageously rescuing his fellow soldiers. When he returns home, he is rewarded the Medal of Honor for his service. What had motivated him to put his life in danger?

He risked his life to save his friends’ lives and defend his country’s freedom. When his life was at stake in battle, he wasn’t thinking, “I’m going to put my life in jeopardy so I will receive a medal.” The reward was simply the nation’s way of showing appreciation for his heroic actions.

In the same way, we serve God because we love Him and our fellow man. We don’t serve for the reward, but for the Lord. “We have as our ambition...to be pleasing to Him.” II Cor 5:9

Rewards are simply God’s way of showing that He is pleased with our lives. He could have kept the truth about eternal rewards a big secret to be revealed to all on Judgement Day. Instead, He specifically told us some things we do now will be rewarded in the next life.

Use Your Talent

“And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability...” Matt 25:15

Trey Wood was born with only one arm. Most people assumed that his handicap would prevent him from participating in a sport like football. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Trey decided to prove the experts wrong. Not only did he learn to play football, he received an athletic scholarship to Sam Houston State University. He went beyond expectations and earned a starting position as a defensive back. One of his responsibilities was to knock down passes when the football was thrown in his area.

Another one-armed young man, Dawuan Miller, also had a dream to play football. In spite of his disability, he, too, earned a scholarship and became the starting defensive back for Boise State University.

Both players made first team. Both excelled at their positions. Despite lacking an arm, Wood broke the career record for Sam Houston State with eleven blocked kicks. Dawuan silenced the doubters by using his one arm to intercept two passes in playoff games.

One September 16, 1995 Sam Houston State played Boise State in football. For the first time in the history of the sport, two colleges played a game with one-armed defensive backs starting for each team. Few will remember the score of the game, but no one who was there will forget how two one-armed players’ gusty performances overshadowed the rest of the talent on the field.

Each of these two football players did more with one arm than most people do with two. When one-talent people apply themselves, they can accomplish incredible feats. You can do amazing things with just one talent, if you will dare to believe it.

What is the talent that God has given you?
And more importantly, what are you doing with it?

Be Faithful

“His master said to him, ‘you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things...’” Matt 25:21

Story is told that George Boldt worked faithfully for years at the front desk in a small hotel. One day an elderly couple came into the lobby and asked for a place to stay. Every room in the hotel- and every hotel in town - was occupied. Realizing that the elderly couple had nowhere to sleep, Boldt offered them his own room. Although they were reluctant to accept his offer, they eventually did so because George insisted.

The next morning when the couple was checking out, the elderly man said to George, “You’re the kind of man who should be managing the best hotel in the country. Some day I’m going to build that hotel and let you manage it.”

Several years later, Boldt received a letter in the mail. It contained a round trip ticket and a note from the man whom he had given his room years before. The man invited George to visit him in New York City.

When Boldt arrived in New York, the gentleman took him to a downtown corner where a huge building stood. “George, this is the hotel I built for you to manage.” Boldt stared in amazement at the glorious structure. The hotel was the Waldorf-Astoria! The elderly man was William Waldorf Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the country. Boldt’s faithfulness in managing a small hotel prepared him to manage one of the most magnificent hotels this country has every seen.

On Judgement Day, God will examine how well we managed our lives on earth. If we were faithful in fulfilling our responsibilities in this life, He will assign us better things to manage in the next life.

How are you doing with what God has called you to do?
Remember, what He asked is for you to be faithful.

Look and See

“ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe...” Eph 1:18-19

We are told by those who know that the visible tip of an iceberg is less than one-third of its total mass. Our relationship with God is like that - what we see is very little compared to what is available. We ought to be grateful for the privilege of being able to stand on what we can see, after all God is under no obligation to reveal Himself at all. Oh the joy of knowing that our God, in all His glory, is far more that we can imagine or grasp.

Right now, take a moment to reflect on how great our God really is. He is Creator, He is the Sustainer of Life, He provides all of your needs, He knows what you need before you ever ask. Our God is an awesome God and He is worthy of our praise, love, and devotion.

Open your eyes! Look and see what God is up to!

Reach Out

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” 1 Tim. 1:15

The storm had been chasing the destroyer over the South Pacific and finally caught it. Now it was knocking the huge vessel around like a “ducky” in a child’s bathtub. Frank McDonald, a faithful deacon, was serving his country onboard this ship during the Korean War.

Frank, in one section of the ship, needed to return to his quarters following his duty shift; only one thing prevented this from being easy - the storm! In order to get to where he was going, he was forced to go out on deck for a short distance to get to an aft hatch. Knowing he was about to get soaked, he rushed out with his head down. Suddenly, the ship lurched, and immediately, his feet flew out from under him. His back hit the hard sloping surface, and he shot feet first out over the side of the ship with nothing but air to support him. For some reason, which Frank can’t explain, he held his hands in the air, fingers cupped, thumbs down. As if planned by the ship’s designer, both hands, caught and grasped the ship’s lower lifeline, saving him from the sea’s unappeasable gullet.

God’s Son, Jesus, is designed to be a vessel (an ark) of salvation for those who believe. He is included in God’s plan of salvation as our lifeline – unseen as we slide down the slippery slope of life at an every-increasing rate. Rescue from eternal damnation awaits those who, by faith, would but reach up and grasp the line that is offered.

If you never have received Him, how about today?
Reach out to Jesus, he is already reaching out to you.

Goals for Debt Management

"Your Value"

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” Matt 6:26

A middle school student wrote the following...
“If you want to know the value of a month: Ask a teenager who’s been grounded.
If you want to know the value of a week: Ask a student with a science project due.
If you want to know the value of a day: Ask a substitute teacher.
If you want to know the value of an hour: Ask a women in labor.
If you want to know the value of a minute: Ask a guy getting bombarded with questions by the parents of the girl who is still upstairs getting ready for their date.
If you want to know the value of a second: Ask a basketball player, down by 1, in possession of the ball.
If you want to know the value of a millisecond: Ask a sprinter.
If you want to know the value of a yard: Ask an NFL running back.
If you want to know the value of a foot: Ask an architect.
If you want to know the value of an inch: Ask a bungee jumper.
If you want to know the value of a gallon: Ask a truck driver.
If you want to know the value of a pint: Ask someone who needs blood.
If you want to know the value of a teaspoon: Ask a sick child.
If you want to know the value of a phone call: Ask the person who just put in a job application.
If you want to know the value of forgiveness: Ask a person on death row.
If you want to know the value of a child: Ask the couple that can’t have one.”

And I say, If you want to know the value of a soul: Look to the cross, and realize that Jesus left heaven’s glory to come, live, and die for you.

It's You I Love !

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

There was a woman whose husband had saved money for years to buy a certain sports car. It was his dream and his goal, and finally after many years, his dream had become a reality.

He was so proud of his new car. He washed it, waxed it, polished it, and took care of it like it was a new born child. Everyone knew how much the man loved his car.

One day, the wife took the car to go shopping and had a wreck. She was injured, and the car was totaled. As she looked at the demolished car, she lost it. She began to cry and cry, she couldn’t be comforted. She said, “How am I going to tell my husband, what is he going to say, he’ll never speak to me again.”

Finally the officer said to her, “Lady I need your insurance and registration.” Sobbing, she reached into the glove compartment for the papers and a note fell out - addressed to her from her husband.

The note said - “Remember Dear, it’s you I love, and not this car!”

Smile, and know that the Lord can’t love you any more, than He does right now!

It's Like Being A Pumpkin !!

“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old
things passed away; behold, new things have come.” II Cor 5:17

A lady recently baptized, was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian?

She replied, “It’s like being a pumpkin...God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you that you may have gotten from the other pumpkins. Then He cuts the top off, and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

You’re a new creature in Christ! You’re not who you used to be - you have been given new life and a fresh start in life. Today, remind yourself that you belong to Christ, He lives in you and He wants to shine through you!

He already knows what you’re going to face today, and He wants to use you to bring glory to Him. So, put on a smiling face, and let your light shine for all to see.

Benefits of Giving Thanks

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord...” Psalm 92:1

People often say, “Pastor, I know the Bible says we ought to give thanks to the Lord, but sometimes I don’t 'feel' like it.”
Listen,we don’t live by our feelings, but by our faith.

There are reasons we need to give thanks in all things.
Let me list a few ~
Giving thanks keeps me aware of the presence of God.
Giving thanks motivates me to keep looking for God’s purpose.
Rom 8:28
Giving thanks motivates me to become more and more yielded to His will.
Giving thanks makes me aware of my dependence on Him - Keeps me focused.
Giving thanks teaches me to trust Him.
Giving thanks is essential to rejoicing in the Lord.
Giving thanks gives impact to our witness.
Giving thanks energizes me in difficult situations.

Be happy and give thanks with a grateful heart!

A Gift From God

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philip 4:19

One day, one friend asked another, “How is it that you are always so happy? You have so much energy, and you never seem to get down.” With her eyes smiling, she said, “I know the secret!” “What secret is that?” To which she replied, “I”ll tell you all about it, but you have to promise to share the secret with others.”

“The secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on God to make me happy and to meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust God to supply according to His riches. I have learned most of the time I don’t need half of what I think I do. He has never let me down. Since I learned that ‘secret’ I am happy.”

The questioner’s first thought was, “That’s too simple!” But upon reflecting over her own life, she recalled how she thought a bigger house would make her happy, but it didn’t! She thought a better paying job would make her happy, but it hadn’t! When did she realize her greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, playing games, eating pizza, or reading a story - simple gifts from God.

Now you know it too! We can’t depend on people to make us happy, only God in His infinite wisdom can do that. Trust Him!

And now I pass the secret on to you! So once you get it, what will you do? YOU have to tell someone the secret, too! That God in His wisdom will take care of you! But it’s not really a secret, we just have to believe it and do it, really trust God! Just pass it on!

Wake Up!

“A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” Prov 29:23

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next week, the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 a.m. for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and lose), he wrote on a piece of paper, “Please wake me at 5:00 a.m.”

The next morning the man woke up only to discover it was 9:00 a.m., and that he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn’t wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed.

The paper said. “It is 5:00am. Wake up!” -Men just aren’t equipped for these sort of contests.

Don’t let your pride keep you from having a wonderful day, remember “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

Make An Impact

“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities...”
Romans 13:1

We have a command from God to do what is asked of us from our authorities, as long as it’s not immoral, illegal, or unbiblical. What then can we do to make an impact on our nation?

We are to pray for civil authorities, I Tim. 2:1-2, and understand how politics and government operate. As part of a fallen world, political institutions are imperfect, but we must remember God ordained them.

Societies can, and do, legislate morality. The question is not whether morality will be legislated, but whose morality will be legislated. The church must never be politicized, rather, the church sends out people equipped to stand firm for justice, motivated by love and compassion.

Get involved in the political process. Matt 5:13-14 Write letters to editors , office holders, etc. Join organizations, movements, and campaigns that you can support as a Christian. And vote! The power of a single vote can be substantial.

Consider, for example, that by only one vote per precinct:
- Averill Harriman was elected governor of New York in 1954.
- George McGovern was elected to the U.S. Senate from South Dakota in 1960.
- John Warner was elected to the U.S. Senate from Virginia in 1978.

Other examples of the power of a single vote:
- Woodrow Wilson won California by less than one vote per precinct, giving him the electoral votes necessary to become president in 1916.
- Harry Truman carried California and Ohio by one vote per precinct in 1948, giving him the winning margin.

“I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ.
Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved.”
Martin Luther

Our Responsibility To Government II

“You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world”
Matt 5, 13, 14

The question always comes, “Should Christians be engaged in the political process of our nation?”

Consider the biblical examples of Joseph (Genesis 41), Daniel, (Daniel 60, and Paul, (Acts 17:22-34; 22:22-26,32).

Our society is based on God given freedoms and responsibilities-
David Brewer - "Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian. This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour. There is a single voice making this affirmation. We can find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.”

Christians are to be salt and light in the world, including the government. Matt 5:13-14

John Jay - "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Theodore Roosevelt - "In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade."

John Adams - “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Our Responsibility to Government

“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority...” I Tim 2:1,2

Because they are ordained by God, we must honor the authorities. We should pray for them, I Timothy 2:1-4. We should pay what we owe, Mark 12:13-17. We should live in obedience, I Peter 2:13-17.

We owe obedience, but not blind obedience. Paul used his citizenship to object to injustice, Acts16:35-39;22:24-29. The apostles understood Christians sometimes should disobey civil authorities when their mandates contradict the laws of God, Acts 5:29.

We are to participate in, and influence the government.
John E. Scott - “What then, is the biblical basis for social concern, and why should Christians get involved? In the end there are only two possible attitudes which Christians can adopt towards the world,‘escape’and ‘engagement.’

‘Escape’ means turning our backs on the world in rejection, washing our hands of it and steeling our hearts against its agonized cries for help. In contrast ‘engagement’ means turning our faces towards the world in compassion, getting our hands dirty, sore, and worn in its service. And feeling deep within us, the stirring of the love which cannot be contained, if we truly love our neighbors. And because of their worth the desire to serve them. We shall be concerned for their total welfare, the well-being of their soul, their body and their community. And our concern will lead to practical programs.”

So the question is, "Are you engaged in our culture, or are you trying to escape it?" We are the salt and light, God expects us to be involved.

The Biblical Purpose for Government

“...for there is not authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Romans 13:11

What is the Biblical purpose for government?

To execute justice.~ Psalms 106:3 How blessed are those who keep justice. Who practice righteousness at all times!
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Reprove the ruthless. Defend the orphan. Plead for the widow

To establish order in society.~
Benjamin Franklin - “I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who build it.’ I firmly believe this. And I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building, no better than the builders of Babel.”

To provide for the common good.~
J. I. Packer - “The more profoundly one is concerned about heaven the more deeply one cares about God’s Will being done on earth”

Daniel Webster- “ Moral habits cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than religious principle. Nor any government be secure which is not supported by moral habits.”

Righteous Responsibility

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Proverbs 14:34

Someone has said, “That all that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for the righteous to do nothing.” We have the ability and the responsibility to do what is right, to change the direction our state and nation is heading, but it seems like most people don’t have the will to do it."

Many Christian people want nothing to do with public life because it seems corrupt and dirty. Yet, is it possible that political life has degenerated because people with strong moral standards have shunned it?

The Bible has some surprising messages for us about our duty to our government--

Romans 13:1-7 God has established the civil authorities.

Thomas Jefferson “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure, when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Now think about what Jefferson said. This quote contradicts those historical revisionists who contend that Jefferson wanted a “wall of separation” to protect the government from people.

George Washington " Let me live according to those holy rules which Thou hast this day prescribed in Thy holy word, direct me to the true object - Jesus Christ, The Way, The Truth and The Life. Bless, O Lord, all the people of this land.”

Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas “We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.”

Separation of church and state, was never intended to keep God out of our government, but to keep the government out of the church !

Christian Citizenship

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution...For such is the will of God...” I Pet 2:13, 15

The late Stephen Olford reminds us that there are solemn responsibilities that are entrusted to citizens of every nation. The Apostle Peter, in speaking here of the role of a Christian citizen, enunciates principles that include and transcend all forms of human government.

The biblical conception of a Christian citizen. “...as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles...” v 11-12

Every child of God has dual citizenship. His name is recorded in heaven, yet he is a recognized citizen of the country in which he chooses to reside. Therefore, his responsibility is to translate the will of God on earth, even as it is in heaven. His duty is to deprecate all known wrong and to advocate all that is good.

The personal submission of a christian citizen. Christian citizens should live lives of discipline and submission. Verse 17 tells us that we are to “honor all people”, to regard them as intrinsically sacred and precious to God. We are to “honor the king” by submitting to the leadership of any country. We are to “love the brotherhood” - the community of saints - and to “fear God.” Only as God is reverenced and feared can true submission to other ordinances become possible.

The spiritual relation of a Christian citizen “Christ...left us an example, that we should follow His steps.” The standards of Christian citizenship are high, but the enablement for meeting these lofty demands can be realized only through a vital relationship to Jesus Christ as Sinbearer, Savior, and Shepherd. Let us rise to serve our generation by the will of God, remembering that “...every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Romans 13:1

Thrust Render unto Caesar the things that are man’s, and offer unto God the things He demands. So the Savior taught us, when He spoke on earth, only by obeying do we learn life’s worth.

Two Masters

On Being Thankful

"... in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thess. 5:18

A story is told about the old man on the pier that couldn't go a week without saying "Thank You!" His name was Eddie Rickenbacker.

If you were alive in October 1942, you probably remember the day that he was reported as missing at sea. He had been sent on a mission to deliver a message to General Douglas MacArthur. With a handpicked crew in a B-17 known as the "Flying Fortress," he set off across the South Pacific. Somewhere the crew became lost, the fuel ran out, and the plane went down.

All eight crew members escaped into the life rafts. They battled the weather, the water, the sharks, and the sun. But most of all, they battled the hunger. After eight days, their rations were gone. They ran out of options. It would take a miracle for them to survive. And a miracle occurred!

After an afternoon devotional service, the men said a prayer and tried to rest. As Rickenbacker was dozing with his hat over his eyes, something landed on his head. He would later say that he knew it was a sea gull. He didn't know he knew, he just knew. That gull meant food - if he could catch it. And he did.

The flesh was eaten. The intestines were used as fish bait. And the crew survived!

Now, here's the 64 million dollar question - "What was a sea gull doing hundreds of miles away from land?" Only God knows! But whatever the reason, Rickenbacker was THANKFUL! As a result, every Friday evening this old captain walked to the pier, his bucket full of shrimp and his heart full of thanks.

How has your week been? Remember, God loves you and you're in the plan. Rejoice and give thanks.