Who Will You Play For?

June 19, 2009

Text: Philemon 1:17-21

Title: Will You Play for Your King?

Thoughts:

“You have something that God has redeemed and desires to use in His Kingdom.”

While visiting another kingdom, the king of a well-known and respected nation was greeted with the greatest of pomps and parades. The hosting king did ever thing imaginable to impress his visitor. Celebrations and coronations had no restrictions. His dictatorship and demands were obviously displayed as the people scurried to impress the visiting king and allude their leader’s wrath. He pridefully boasted of his country’s factories, merchants, and merchandise.

At one point the tour passed by a peasant boy playing his instrument beautifully. Serenading the procession, the boy captured the heart of the two kings. While the visiting king was enamored by the boy’s talent, the host was infuriated that his officials had not removed the boy from the site of his guest. At once he demanded the boy be placed in a hard labor camp; a place the visiting guest knew to be a sentence of death.

Courageously the visiting king spoke. He described the intent to which his heart had been touched by the boy and his abilities. His heart had been arrested. Turning to the host he responded, “I would like to take this boy back to my kingdom. How much would he cost?”

Laughing out loud, the king said, “This boy is not deserving of royalty! He is worth nothing.” Then realizing the visitor was serious, the king seized an opportunity to exact a prized possession of the visiting king. The price: a rare gem found only within the visiting king’s country.  It was the only one of its kind.

The visiting king was so enthralled with the boy he willingly paid the price and returned to his country with the boy, where he joyfully played for his redeemer’s kingdom.

We all represent the peasant child. We were once bound in a land ruled by a hard taskmaster. He demanded and dictated our existence. Yet, the King’s heart has been captured and He has redeemed us for His pleasure.

Application:

Philemon’s redeemed instrument was Onesimus. He had to determine whether or not he would return his gift (Onesimus) to the Kingdom or stingily relish in his new freedom. What is your instrument (time, talents, treasures)?

Are you using them in the Kingdom of the Lord? Who are you playing for?

Why do we view our situations so differently when we look through the story of another? How can we keep this perspective of what God has done for us?

Prayer:

Father,

My heart is captured in this story of Onesimus. Once a worthless possession, You have redeemed me for Your pleasure. In the freedom of this new Kingdom, may I play for Your pleasure. May I invest my time, talents, and treasures for Your Kingdom and not seek to develop my own. Remind me often and vividly of what You have done for me.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ownership = Rights and Responsibilities

June 17, 2009

Text: Philemon 1:10-16

Title: Ownership = Rights and Responsibilities

Thoughts:

“You own something that God has redeemed and desires to use for His Kingdom.”

Reading through the book of Philemon, one cannot deny the authority Philemon had in regards to his servant Onesimus. Paul clarifies there are only two ways in which Onesimus could remain. Paul could either assert his authority and leverage Philemon’s debt against him to keep Onesimus, or he could appeal to Philemon’s proper stewardship of his servant Onesimus. In neither case was the option up to Onesimus. He was the property of his owner.

Again, we do not embrace slavery. Furthermore, just as it is impossible for any person to claim absolute ownership of anything upon earth, it is impossible for one individual to own another. Understanding that “the earth and the fullness thereof belongs to the Lord” (Ps. 24:1), we recognize that ownership is more than absolute ownership. Therefore, we will consider ownership relative to the terms: rights and responsibilities.

While Philemon could not completely own the person of Onesimus, he was the possessor of the rights to Onesimus. It was entirely his determination as to what would happen with this newly transformed man. As a homeowner, I have the right to manage my house as I wish. As a renter, this choice is not mine. However, with the rights of ownership come the responsibilities of ownership. Though Philemon owned the rights of Onesimus, he was responsible for him, both in a physical and eternal sense.

Like Onesimus, we will all appear before the Lord and will be called to give an account of the rights we have stewarded on earth. Each of us have ownership to the rights of our time, talents, and treasures. Though God could demand we use them in His will, He allows us to manage those rights. However, we must never forget that those rights come with responsibilities.

Application:

How would you define ownership?

How does the terms rights and responsibilities change your perception of ownership?

What time, talents, and treasures are you exercising rights and responsibilities over in your life? Are you ready to give an account for each of them?

Prayer:

Father,

At times I think ownership is relative to just me. I treat it as if it were simply whether or not I want to do or not to do something. Though You have given me that right, You have also made me completely responsible for those decisions. May I be faithful in every aspect of my stewardship!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Raising Your Trust Factor

January 30, 2009
Text: Genesis 22:9-14
Title: Raising Your Trust Factor
Author: Rodney Cundiff (Church of God Stewardship Ministries)

Thoughts:

When I focus on my finances, trusting God to be faithful to my family is essential to making right choices.  How does a person grow in faith to trust God completely?
I am especially moved by Abraham’s story and God’s faithfulness.  Abraham was imperfect, yet grew to trust God with everything.  So, how can I raise “The Trust Factor” in my life?

When I read the Bible and experience life, its truth and power refines the character of God in my life; while simultaneously illuminating the character of my Heavenly Father.  This enriches my personal relationship with God, and leads me to trust in His faithfulness.

Raising Your Trust Factor:

1.  Trust is Built on Authentic Relationship. Persons I trust the greatest, I hold closest to me.  Most authentic relationships are filled with consistent intimate communication.

2.  Refining and Revealing Character. James’ Epistle reminds me that character is refined in times of testing and obedience, while the character of God is revealed to me in those same moments.

3.  Over Time. Trust grows daily as the character of a person becomes known.  Trusting God is a process.  Over time, Abraham’s journey from Ur, where he offered his son as a sacrifice, resulted in Abraham’s immense trust in God’s faithfulness.

4.  Confirmation of What A Person or Thing Claims To Be or Say. Character is greater than words.  Believing God’s Word is important, and so is trusting in His character. If I trust His character, (who He is), I can then trust His promises.

“Trust is Built on Authentic Relationships, that Refine and Reveal Character Over Time, Which Confirms What A Person or Thing Claims To Be or Say.”

If I trust God’s character, I can believe He’ll be faithful.  Applying Abraham’s story and the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 to my life, by seeking first the kingdom and God’s righteousness (character), all of my concerns will be taken care of, including finances.

Applications:

What is the biggest issue keeping me from trusting God with my finances?

What part of my character is being refined currently?

In what ways has my understanding of God changed over time?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to trust you more.  As I work daily at drawing closer to You, refine my character, so that I become more like You.  Reveal Your character, and love to me.  Help me to recognize Your faithfulness in my life.  Give me confidence in Your promises about my finances, and raise my trust level.  Amen.

Discipline: Taming the Beast

January 15, 2009
Text: Genesis 3:1-7
Title: Discipline: Taming the Beast

Thoughts:

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)

Had Adam and Eve only had considered the cost of their mismanaged stewardship, surely they would have chosen to avoid the toxins of the enticing fruit. Unfortunately, their lack of discipline led them to forfeit a life filled with God’s provisions and presence.

Stewardship and discipline go hand in hand. When it comes to stewardship, discipline is a must. Concerning financial stewardship, Dave Ramsey writes,

“Money…is like a beautiful thoroughbred horse–very powerful and always in action, but unless the horse is trained when very young, it will be an out-of-control and dangerous animal when it grows to maturity.

The point is this: You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.” (Financial Peace Revisited, p.19-20)

Discipline in our stewardship requires:
1) Counting the Cost: Before we make the purchase, sign the contract, or eat the fruit, we must chart the maturity of our decision. The 12-inch python seems manageable in the pet store. It’s the other 11-FEET that are generally not accounted for.
2) Constant Care: Discipline is not a position on the map. It’s not visited once and forever achieved. Discipline with our finances, physique, or spiritual life requires daily accountability and attention.
3) Contentment: Before there were tv ads, radio spots, or glossy magazine coupons, Satan had developed a plan to make humanity feel cheated. They simply “needed more.” Paul encourages us to find contentment in what God has provided for us, be it great or little (Phil. 4:11ff). Without finding contentment in Christ’s provisions we will always be in debt, spiritually and financially.

In order to manage the stallion of tomorrow, we must discipline the colt of today. Let’s make wise stewardship decisions today that will mature in the Kingdom of Heaven tomorrow.

Application:

Have you ever fallen for the cute and tame pet that became too large to manage? (credit card purchase you couldn’t pay off, vehicle you couldn’t afford the maintenance on, etc.)

What disciplines do you have in place today that are proving your faithfulness as a godly steward of God’s resources?

What raging stallions do you have in your life right now? Have you asked God for help?

Prayer:

Father,

Though You continually seek to show me, may I truly see the maturity of my decision before I make it. Help me to discipline myself to chart its progression from conception to fruition. I recognize that my every decision has children. It will produce life or death, blessings or curses. Today, I want to choose life with every choice. Will You deliver me from yesterdays choices and help me with today’s?

In Jesus’ name. Amen.