During my 1:1 meeting last week we looked at 1 Corinthians 4.  We were pleasantly surprised to see the verses that lined up with our October theme of Stewardship. Here is what verse 7 says in the New Living Translation (NLT):

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”

And here is how the same verse reads in The Message (MSG):

“Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing?”

We ask these 3 questions when we get together after reading a chapter from God’s word.

• Jesus where are you speaking to me? And what are you saying?
• Holy Spirit, what response are you forming in me?
• Father, what promise covers my next step?

One of the things that I wrote down was, do I really believe that everything I have, and everything I am is a gift from God? What would change for me if I really believed that?

It is easy to give a quick answer yes to the question and give intellectual ascent. Sure – everything is from God.  And then I think… do I really believe that?  Wouldn’t I be more generous with my time, my money, my place to live, my clothes, my car?  Am I holding on too tightly to any of those things? If they really are gifts from God and I am a steward of them, perhaps I could be taking better care of what I have been given.  And upon further reflection, knowing and believing that everything I have is a gift from God I then am a person filled to overflowing with gratitude.

I don’t know about you, but I was taught as a very young child the importance of saying thank you. And after I received a gift to write a thank you note.  When is the last time you said thank you to God for the many gifts you have been given?  You can also write him a note of thanks.  The children of Israel did just that and it is recorded for us in Psalm 136.  You could write your own as a Household – check it out here on our website https://livelifetogether.com/household-well/

Here is the promise that covers my next steps .. it is laid out in Psalm 92:1-4

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”

Join me in giving thanks that God has given us all things and asked us to take good care of them and be generous with them.  May we be thankful people filled with joy so the world will want to know more about our Father in heaven.