God’s Gifts, My Stewardship

Matthew 19:16-26  (Read this for these are the Words of life, my words are just words!)

Silent Endings – New Beginnings

It is all boxed, now in storage.  My home. My life. Cleaned up.

Closed up.  As perfect as I could leave it with the leaves falling like rain and crunching under my feet.  Even the trees were weeping.

Standing in silence, watching me as I worked to ready what had been our home for new owners.  Papers signed. Money exchanged. Household goods sold, given, thrown away, and packed.  

Phase Two

Phase two has not been easier than phase one.  I cannot find a house to purchase. I am beginning to think I have a touch of entitlement.  What makes us think we have a right to have a nice house.  What makes me different from every other human being?  Not one cotton pickin’ thing! I have in my mind what I want and I cannot find it.  Well, let me rephrase that: I can’t find it with everything PERFECT!    I am currently living like a vagabond.  It could be fun but so far it is not. I am not exactly putting my best “faith” foot forward.  My trust quotient is about spent. I am in the crucible to show me another dark corner of my heart: spoiled, less thankful, feeling entitled.  Not too pretty.

God’s Gift; my stewardship

Stewardship of God’s gifts doesn’t get easier.  It is “easier for a camel to squeeze through a needle eye”  (Matthew 19:24)  than an American to not live on credit so they can do what they want, when they want, how they want.    I don’t want to have to wait. Like a toddler, I want it NOW! I want to throw a hissy fit and call it ok!  It is not………….

Facing Reality – Making Choices

Even as I write, I am not wanting to face the reality of my situation.  Choices have to be made. Hard choices. Like the rich young ruler Luke 18:18-23) who had much, I had much and I am being asked to let it go and I am sad.   How is that for candor? Transparency? Following the LORD is a narrow path. (Matthew 7:13-14)   I want to be like the disciples who willingly left everything to follow Him.  (Luke 14:25-35)  It really is a privilege to be asked to follow.  Are my riches impeding me? I think we all know the answer to this rhetorical question.

Following Jesus on a New Journey

The Lord has not asked me to relinquish all my goods and give to the poor.  He has only asked me to sell my home and follow Him on a new journey. Years ago, one I care for dearly, looked at me and said emphatically, “I am NOT going to do what God wants me to do.  It will be too hard, and I am not going to do it. My mind is made up and you cannot change my mind.” I begged a re-evaluation to no avail. I knew in that moment life was going to be very different.  It has been.

Being a good steward of all God’s gifts requires daily choices

However, being in the center of His will does not guarantee no hardship. (John 16:33)  Indeed, when we are following hard after Him, the enemy sets all his attention on thwarting God’s work and his favorite weapon is other people, (Ephesians 6:12)  especially the ones we love!!!!  He did it to Jesus. (Mark 3:21)   Why should I expect less?  Being a good steward of all God’s gifts requires daily choices:  thanksgiving, generosity, release of control, and obedience. What shall we choose?  

https://youtu.be/fiyYoe678yI  Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)

Yvonne Jones

Connect with some of our past posts.

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/05/29/how-much-have-my-choices-cost-me/