CHOSEN FOR STEWARDSHIP

Transcription

1 From the Desk of Bill Winston December 2017 Join the Twitter Conversation CHOSEN FOR STEWARDSHIP Dear Partner, First Corinthians 4:1-2 MEV says, Let a man so regard us as the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, God sees all of us as ministers of the gospel and stewards of the things He has given to us. These things include our personal gifts and talents, our families, our bodies, and all the resources in and on this planet. God expects us to be faithful stewards over them all. What is Stewardship? The Greek word for steward in the opening scripture is oikonomos, which means manager or overseer. In biblical times a steward was a person, slave or free, to whom the master or head of house entrusted the management of household affairs. This steward was responsible for managing the master s possessions as if they were his own. Joseph is an excellent example of a faithful steward. When Potiphar, Joseph s master, saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand (Genesis 39:3), he made Joseph overseer over his house, and all that he had put into his hands (verse 4). The Scriptures go on to say that Potiphar didn t have one concern in the world except the food he ate (verse 6 NIV). So, contrary to what most Christians have been taught, stewardship is not just about money and how to manage it. It s about all the responsibilities we have been given as kingdom citizens. Giving tithes and offerings, caring for the poor and supporting the local church with prayer, helping rebuild our communities, voting, supporting our military and those keeping the peace...all are a part of our stewardship responsibilities and Christian duty. Stewardship is also about where and how we, as believers, work. We are to do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:23). We are responsible to raise the value of the company we work for; or, if you own a business, create jobs and provide solutions or products that improve people s lives. When you do this, you become a light to the people around you. Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Bill Winston Ministries Africa 22 Salisbury Road, Morningside, Durban, 4001 (+27) partners@bwm.org.za bwm.org.za

2 Here s something that might be a revelation to you. As a steward, you are not at that job or assignment for them to meet your needs. No! The primary reason that God sent you there is for you to meet their needs. Philippians 4:19 says, But my God shall supply all your need. God never intended for His children to have to live depending on a paycheck or have to earn a living! The Blessing of the Lord makes us rich. (Proverbs 10:22) You are there to be a blessing...to develop a product or device or to improve a process to better their bottom line. Joseph, for example, brought so much profit to his boss until his master placed him over all that he owned in the house and in the field (Genesis 39:5 NLV). You re not at that company for them to make you rich. No! Your priority is to make them rich. Remember, the way we live in the kingdom is almost exactly opposite than the way people live in the world. Jesus preached, Repent, which means to change your thinking. Your faithful stewardship will prosper and promote you where one day you would own that company, or at least God will give you your own. (See Luke 16:12) I was faithful to IBM when I was in the corporate world. I was a believer and, as a salesman, I made the company a lot of money. Results? Look at me now...god has given me my own. The Three Servants Jesus teaches on stewardship, making it clear in Matthew, chapter 25 (MEV), that the kingdom is not nonprofit. God expects us to increase what He has given us. 14 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey. 16 He who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. 17 So also, he who had received two gained another two. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his master s money. When the master returned to reckon with them and settle his account, the stewards who had doubled what they had been given were honored, rewarded and promoted. The master told both these servants, Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master (verse 21). But to the servant who buried his talent out of fear, making excuses and blaming his master for his slothfulness, He got fired! His master answered, You wicked and slothful servant! (verse 26). As Christians, God has generously invested in each one of us, and we are to wisely use what He has entrusted to us to give Him a return on His investment. Profit is not a dirty word. In fact, here s a news flash. There is no such thing Page 2

3 as nonprofit in the kingdom. Profit was God s idea. Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go (Isaiah 48:17). What I m saying is that PROFIT is part of our kingdom stewardship responsibility. Our ministry s Joseph Business School was founded on this scripture and the principle of stewardship. Teach Us to Number Our Days The master called the unprofitable servant, Thou, wicked and slothful servant. The word slothful comes from the word sloth, which means slowness or tardiness. It even means lazy. So, a big contributor to this servant s unprofitableness was because he was tardy, even a time waster. How we manage our time on this earth is part of our stewardship responsibility. You can actually lose money, members or opportunities by being tardy or late. Psalm 90, verse 12, says, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Another translation says, Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should (TLB). Faithfulness FAITHFULNESS is a key ingredient of stewardship. Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 MEV). A faithful steward is reliable, trusted and believed. Webster s Dictionary defines faithfulness as maintaining an allegiance to someone or something: to be constant, loyal, having or showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility. Faithfulness is rooted in integrity. The United States Marine Corps has a motto, Semper Fi, which means always faithful. It comes from the Latin phrase Semper Fidelis. Notice, it doesn t mean sometimes faithful or usually faithful but always faithful. And it describes a culture where the people have an unwavering commitment and loyalty to each other, the Corps and their country. Lake and Pulaski Streets When Veronica and I moved to Chicago to start our ministry with only $200 to our name, those were tough days, and we encountered some very challenging circumstances. But we were obedient and remained faithful to what the Lord had called us to. Our first location was a small store-front church at Lake and Pulaski Streets on Chicago s West Side. At the time, it was considered one of the roughest areas of the city. One night someone stole our car during service. We now had to take public transportation for almost eight months, during a bitterly cold Chicago winter, because the money we received from the insurance claim wasn t enough to buy another car. Page 3

4 Things didn t look good, but through it all we remained faithful. The circumstances demanded the FRUIT OF FAITHFULNESS (Galatians 5:22), which must be developed in every believer. The apostle James writes, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4). By the way, God can change an unfaithful person into a faithful one through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. So don t give up. If you ve made mistakes or had weaknesses in the area of faithfulness, don t think for a moment that God has counted you out. Remember, God chose you (John 15:16), you didn t choose Him. He knows what is on the inside of you. Look at Peter. He denied Jesus three times, but later became one of the greatest apostles in the New Testament, boldly proclaiming the gospel everywhere he went. Rewards of Faithfulness Veronica and I are living witnesses that God rewards those who are faithful, along with many examples throughout the Bible, such as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, or Ruth. There are rewards to faithfulness. A faithful man shall abound with blessings (Proverbs 28:20). God has tremendously rewarded Veronica and me. We have a happy marriage, three adult children who are serving in the church, and eight grandchildren. God has blessed us with a thriving local church that serves several thousand members each week, the Joseph Business School, the Living Word School of Ministry, two shopping malls, and a television broadcast that reaches over 800 million households worldwide with the gospel. Glory to God! As you sow you seed this month, know that God is faithful to keep His Word, great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23). The apostle Paul writes, And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation] (2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC). Veronica and I love you and are so thankful to the Lord to have you as our faithful partner. This Christmas season we pray that your home will OVERFLOW with love, laughter, miracles, and blessings. From our family to yours, we wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Until next time, keep walking by faith! Your Partner and Friend, William S. Winston Page 4

5 ...stewardship is not just about money and how to manage it. It s about all the responsibilities we have been given as kingdom citizens... AND Part of God s plan for your life is that you are not just a world overcomer, but a world changer for the kingdom of God. To transform the world and its fallen systems, you must be a person of strong moral character and godly integrity. God is raising you up to do big things. He s preparing you for your Promised Land through your integrity. Let the biblical insights shared in this series help you shine your light before men. Step into all that God has for you by walking every day in character and integrity. Sow a seed by mail, call (+27) , or online at bwm.org.za/partners@bwm.org.za For a gift of any amount receive this timely teaching! Product # Title DEC17C-LPL (CD) Character & Integrity, Vol. 1 & 2 DEC17D-LPL (DVD) Character & Integrity, Vol. 1 & 2 Total Seed Sown *Limit one format per household, offer expires December 31, *Product must be requested at time of donation. A17LPL Shipping Information Name (Please Print) Address City Postal Code Address Phone Province Join the conversation If you have any prayer request please Call us on our toll free prayer line also checkout our bwm.org.za

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