On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 120: Are you a Consumer or Steward? (11/13/16)

“For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.”  (Romans 14: 17-18 RSV)

When God created all things, He said, “It is Good!” Everything is GOOD! God did not create anything that was evil. 

So how did all these good things become evil? How did all these gifts that God gave us become bad? Or did they become bad?

What we have done with those gifts? The answer lies within us. We became consumers of those gifts using them for our personal gain. We did not and still do not use the gifts for the purposes they were intended. Yes, there are many that use God’s gifts for the right purpose, but sadly the majority of us do not.

God gave us those gifts to benefit our lives but the misuse of our time, talents and treasures to satisfy ourselves instead of God has made us ill and will lead us to sin and death. Misused gifts from God become our addiction, our illnesses.

God has given us the free will to use the gifts as we choose but He asks us to use them to benefit others, our loved ones, those in need, offering them up to God so that He might return them to us with an increase. Are you afraid that God will not give them back to you?  If that were the case, why would He give them to you in the first place!

Look around at all the gifts God has provided. Look and see how wonderful your desires and passion should be and how they will, when used properly, transform you and the world. If you simply open your eyes and your ears and look you will become a true Steward of God and see everything in this world as a gift from God.

This weekly series of brief thoughts on stewardship and Orthodox life is brought to you by your Diocesan Stewardship Commission.

Mark Your Calendar Now for the 2nd annual Stewardship Retreat will be held September 22-24, 2017.

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