Steward part 4
Here's where it can get a little bit tricky: We've been talking about taking care of what we've been given, right? As always, there's another aspect of this. Because our relationship with God is manifested in our relationship with each other. Taking care of the love that God has given us means taking care of each other. Look at Philippians 2:4-5, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Did you catch that? We let the mind of Christ (that's already in us) BE in us... by looking after each other. By taking care of each other. Which is what being a good steward is all about! The most important thing that we've been "given," in a sense, is each other. That's what God has trusted us with. People. I've long said that there are only two things in the universe that are truly important: God and people. Loving God and loving people. Loving God BY loving people. Letting Hiim love us and loving Him back by loving each other. That's what the abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of God is all about. Because the life of God is a life of love. Because God IS love. That's not just what He does, that's who He is. And since He lives in us, that's not just what WE do, that's who WE ARE! We CAN take care of each other because He takes such good care of us. And, listen, I truly believe there is a lot to be said about ministering out of your hurt. Ministering out of your pain. But its even so much better, so much more powerful, to be able to show people the way THROUGH what they're going through. Letting them know that you've been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and came out the other side. A map is cool, but a guide is priceless. Someone who knows the ins and outs. Someone who can show you the tricks. Show you what's what. So when we're talking about being a good steward... I think what I'm trying to say tonight is that we need to take care of each other. We need to stop being self-centered and start being Christ-centered (people-centered). I'm telling you, and I've seen this happen, if you're throwing someone over so that you can "serve God"... you're not serving God! Serving God is serving people. Jesus said whatever you do to the least of them you do to Him. Being a steward is love being a steward of people. Taking care of the gift we've been given--one more time, LOVE--is taking care of people. We can't lose the human aspect though. Because that's everything. You can't have love without having someone TO love. Relationship. We need to cultivate and nourish those connections we have with each other. We need to be good stewards of the things... and the people... that have been placed in our lives. We need to take care of the things that matter to us. And we need to understand that PEOPLE matter most. We have to make sure that our priorities are straight. We have to make sure that we're not losing sight of what (WHO) really matters. We have to make sure we're taking care... of each other!