Today's YM lesson was on being a good steward .
Definition of Steward:
A steward is not the owner of something, but the manager of something, and that person then is accountable to the owner for how they do. God created this world and we are then managers, and trustees of this good thing that God has given. So, that means that home is not really ours. Our money isn't ours and even our very selves don't belong to us.
A good steward is someone then who lives in a way that pleases God, in the way they use their time, in the way they use their talents and the way they use their treasure. It's the whole of life.
Here are two instances where John Wesley teaches us something about stewardship:
John Wesley lived in the 1700's and he began the religious movement that became the Methodist church. And Wesley described something that happened probably about at the beginning of the 1730's. It was a cold bitter day and he had just come back to his apartment with all kinds of paintings that he had gotten, pictures for his room, to decorate it. And he was feeling good about that when his maid came, and even though it was an incredibly cold bitter day she comes in just wearing a linen gown. She does not have any coat on, and so he is immediately concerned about that and he wants to do something about it, so he reaches into his pocket to get out some money in order to give her some money so she can buy a coat and protect her health, and he realizes that he has just spent almost everything he has on those pictures. And he doesn't have the money at that moment to help. In his own words he describes what comes to mind. Will the master say, "Well done good and faithful steward. You've just adorned your walls with the money, which might have screened this poor creature from the cold. Are not the pictures the blood of this poor maid?" In this moment in Wesley's life all three things come together. He's got a concern for this person. He realizes that there is going to have to be some adjustment in his life. That way his contentment is not related to spending all that he has, and he realizes at that moment that he is accountable to someone. And someone will either be holding him accountable in a negative sense or be crediting something to him because he has done well.
In 1731 John Wesley made 30 pounds. He lived on 28 of them and he gave away 2. It's less than a tithe. The following year he made 60 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 32. In the fourth year he made 120 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 92 pounds. And finally, later in his career John Wesley became one of the best paid preachers in all of history.
John Wesley shows all three ingredients of good stewardship. He was concerned about the gospel and the needs around him. He was content to live at some level that wasn't 100% of what he owned. And he really believed that it was worth it to live in light of eternity. He really believed that God was going to credit this to his account.
God used my group of sec 1s to encourage me today. And i thank God for all that He have done in my life and in the lives of all these youths that He has given me to interact with.
We started discussion today with an activity. I got my group place any amount of money they have into this treasure chest and take one gold chocolate coin in exchange for the money they put in. (The gold coins represent our riches in heaven) We went on into our discussion, talking about stewardship, how we can use our time, money and talent for God's glory. At the end of our sharing, I challenged the group to give the money in the box to the tracker's mission team as an act of our stewardship to God today. Here's to my surprise. None of them said no, but in fact all of them wanted to give more. Some who didnt bring money felt quite bad. But I could see all their hearts, open and willing to render support and help. This is a big boost of encouragement for me to see the young and willing hearts of the youths.
I was just thinking through the week, how to effectively lead my group, how i can be a better leader or mentor to them. I may not have led a sec1 grp before, i may not be thorougly equipped, but through God everything's possible. He made me strong in my weakness and showed me that i've been doing a good job and walking in the right path. What an affirmation. Thank You Lord. I shall continue to grow to be a better leader to the youths and a good steward for the Lord/
Definition of Steward:
A steward is not the owner of something, but the manager of something, and that person then is accountable to the owner for how they do. God created this world and we are then managers, and trustees of this good thing that God has given. So, that means that home is not really ours. Our money isn't ours and even our very selves don't belong to us.
A good steward is someone then who lives in a way that pleases God, in the way they use their time, in the way they use their talents and the way they use their treasure. It's the whole of life.
Here are two instances where John Wesley teaches us something about stewardship:
John Wesley lived in the 1700's and he began the religious movement that became the Methodist church. And Wesley described something that happened probably about at the beginning of the 1730's. It was a cold bitter day and he had just come back to his apartment with all kinds of paintings that he had gotten, pictures for his room, to decorate it. And he was feeling good about that when his maid came, and even though it was an incredibly cold bitter day she comes in just wearing a linen gown. She does not have any coat on, and so he is immediately concerned about that and he wants to do something about it, so he reaches into his pocket to get out some money in order to give her some money so she can buy a coat and protect her health, and he realizes that he has just spent almost everything he has on those pictures. And he doesn't have the money at that moment to help. In his own words he describes what comes to mind. Will the master say, "Well done good and faithful steward. You've just adorned your walls with the money, which might have screened this poor creature from the cold. Are not the pictures the blood of this poor maid?" In this moment in Wesley's life all three things come together. He's got a concern for this person. He realizes that there is going to have to be some adjustment in his life. That way his contentment is not related to spending all that he has, and he realizes at that moment that he is accountable to someone. And someone will either be holding him accountable in a negative sense or be crediting something to him because he has done well.
In 1731 John Wesley made 30 pounds. He lived on 28 of them and he gave away 2. It's less than a tithe. The following year he made 60 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 32. In the fourth year he made 120 pounds. He lived on 28 and he gave away 92 pounds. And finally, later in his career John Wesley became one of the best paid preachers in all of history.
John Wesley shows all three ingredients of good stewardship. He was concerned about the gospel and the needs around him. He was content to live at some level that wasn't 100% of what he owned. And he really believed that it was worth it to live in light of eternity. He really believed that God was going to credit this to his account.
God used my group of sec 1s to encourage me today. And i thank God for all that He have done in my life and in the lives of all these youths that He has given me to interact with.
We started discussion today with an activity. I got my group place any amount of money they have into this treasure chest and take one gold chocolate coin in exchange for the money they put in. (The gold coins represent our riches in heaven) We went on into our discussion, talking about stewardship, how we can use our time, money and talent for God's glory. At the end of our sharing, I challenged the group to give the money in the box to the tracker's mission team as an act of our stewardship to God today. Here's to my surprise. None of them said no, but in fact all of them wanted to give more. Some who didnt bring money felt quite bad. But I could see all their hearts, open and willing to render support and help. This is a big boost of encouragement for me to see the young and willing hearts of the youths.
I was just thinking through the week, how to effectively lead my group, how i can be a better leader or mentor to them. I may not have led a sec1 grp before, i may not be thorougly equipped, but through God everything's possible. He made me strong in my weakness and showed me that i've been doing a good job and walking in the right path. What an affirmation. Thank You Lord. I shall continue to grow to be a better leader to the youths and a good steward for the Lord/
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1Corinthians 15:58)
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