June 10-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin, heads The Steward’s Journey and Kingdom Life Publishing
Have you noticed that throughout Scripture, with God, it’s all or nothing? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strengthâ€
Jesus began His earthly ministry saying, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished†(Matthew 5:17-18).
In His great commission, Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations†(Matthew 28:18b-19a). He asks us to teach people to obey “everything I have commanded you†and promises to be with us, “always, to the very end of the age†(Matthew 28:20).
In Colossians, Paul describes Jesus as “the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created†and, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together†(Colossians 1:16-17). Elsewhere, Paul proclaims, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive†(1 Corinthians 15:22).
We could explore numerous other texts. These are just a few. They reveal that God shows no partiality. God didn’t create most of the world, or love some of us, or die for a few of our sins, or call us to follow Him with a percentage of our hearts. With God it is all, every, and always!
June 11-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin
Why is this important? When Scripture proclaims, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it†(Psalm 24:1), we must take seriously both the absolute sovereignty of God and the unequivocal inclusiveness of His ownership of all creation.
That includes everything that we experience in the four spheres of relationship in which we were created. Genesis 1-2 describes a loving Creator who designed us for whole, loving, and satisfying relationships in four spheres: with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with the creation. Put another way, the first couple hung out with God in intimate relationship, found their self-image and meaning in Him, loved each other, and cared for creation, which He made wonderfully for them.
These perfect relationships reflected the holy God that created them. As long as they followed God’s instructions, Adam and Eve experienced abundant life. But in Genesis 3, they chose a different way. Desiring to be “like God†they claimed ownership and began to conceive of things as ‘mine’ (Genesis 3:5). With this counterfeit ownership came all the ills and sorrows of a life separate from God.
And so it is with us. Jesus came to set us free from all the fallout of our ownership ways. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery†(Galatians 5:1). Jesus won the victory for us over the powers that seek to put us in bondage. He freed us to follow Him. When we do, we find ourselves on the journey of the faithful steward. The pathway to life in all its fullness.
June 12-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin
That journey begins with surrender, an absolute and total giving back. It’s an all-in decision. We set at the feet of Jesus everything we claim to own. Just as God reigns over everything, our surrender permeates all four areas — our relationship with God, with ourselves, our neighbors, and all creation. With us, as with God, it’s all or nothing (see Matthew 6:24).
So, we give Him back our lives, our marriages, our children, our ambitions, our careers, our health, our reputations, our time, our future, our money and all that it buys. We surrender our wealth, our investments, our assets, our pensions, and our possessions. And we surrender the false sense of security they pretend to offer.
Here is the most amazing part of this surrender. The result is not sadness or a sense of loss, but absolute freedom and pure joy! It is the source of our peace and the guarantee of our divine contentment. It is the abundant life Jesus promised us (see John 10:10). Surrender marks the road for taking hold of “the life that is truly life†(1 Timothy 6:19).
This brings us back to where we started with three little words: It’s All His. Say them aloud. They become our declaration of freedom. From this place, we can walk the path of the faithful steward who rejoices in thoughtfully allocating all of God’s resources to giving, saving, and spending in ways that reflect God’s heart.
I pray you know this freedom in every area of life and enjoy each day of your journey as a faithful steward.
June 13-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green, Ministry Investment Officer for Hobby Lobby
A short answer to this question would be that we should invest our earnings in three ways: giving, saving, and spending. How we allocate to these three buckets will be completely based on our heart — the choice is left to us.
Many people today spend all the money they have. Some spend even more than they have. This results in high levels of debt and slavery to lenders (see Proverbs 22:7). This also means there is little, if any, left for giving or saving.
Saving, in plain terms, is living on less than we have earned. Some choose to take that surplus and save it up on earth for themselves rather than store it up in heaven. But Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also†(Matthew 6:21).
From all indications, how we spend money is not what is addressed in this Scripture, but rather why we spend money the way we do.
In essence, God gives us the freedom to spend the money we have earned in whatever way we desire. I believe the passion of our heart determines where our money goes. Basically, our money follows where our heart leads.
Who wants a gift that was involuntary or forced? The best gifts are those given out of a heart of love. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.â€
What the Lord wants is not our money, but our hearts, our love!
June 14-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green
The more we love the Lord and understand the opportunity God gives us to invest in eternal treasure, the more our money will flow into investing in God’s kingdom.
The verses preceding Matthew 6:21 say, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal†(Matthew 6:19-20).
Randy Alcorn addresses the underlying idea of these verses with this statement in his book, The Treasure Principle. "You can't take it [your earnings] with you — but you can send it on ahead." Return on that investment is incalculable, and it lasts forever!
The words of Jesus seem to emphasize this point when He says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life†(Matthew 19:29).
As Randy Alcorn states in The Law of Rewards, I have further concluded, "Christ's primary argument against amassing material wealth isn't that it's morally wrong but simply that it's a poor investment." This world is a foolish location to place our hope and future!
June 15-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green
So then, what does God desire for us to do with what we have? It seems that He has given us the freedom to choose how to spend our earnings, while also pointing the way. But He never forces us to go there.
How we spend our earnings gives a clear reflection of our heart. The more we understand the Lord's love for us, the more we want to show Him our love with our earnings as well as our time and talent.
Again, we can and should invest our earnings in three ways: giving, saving, and spending. How we allocate to these three buckets will be completely based on our heart — both as we discern how He wants us to allocate and as we recognize the eternal implications of these decisions.
As our heart for God grows, we allocate more to the things He cares about, and we can expect more joy now and in eternity.
Our faith establishes our eternal destination. Our behavior, including how we spend our earnings, determines the eternal rewards we can anticipate when we get there. Let us show our desire for God in the way we handle that which we have earned.
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin, heads The Steward’s Journey and Kingdom Life Publishing
Have you noticed that throughout Scripture, with God, it’s all or nothing? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strengthâ€
Jesus began His earthly ministry saying, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished†(Matthew 5:17-18).
In His great commission, Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations†(Matthew 28:18b-19a). He asks us to teach people to obey “everything I have commanded you†and promises to be with us, “always, to the very end of the age†(Matthew 28:20).
In Colossians, Paul describes Jesus as “the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created†and, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together†(Colossians 1:16-17). Elsewhere, Paul proclaims, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive†(1 Corinthians 15:22).
We could explore numerous other texts. These are just a few. They reveal that God shows no partiality. God didn’t create most of the world, or love some of us, or die for a few of our sins, or call us to follow Him with a percentage of our hearts. With God it is all, every, and always!
June 11-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin
Why is this important? When Scripture proclaims, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it†(Psalm 24:1), we must take seriously both the absolute sovereignty of God and the unequivocal inclusiveness of His ownership of all creation.
That includes everything that we experience in the four spheres of relationship in which we were created. Genesis 1-2 describes a loving Creator who designed us for whole, loving, and satisfying relationships in four spheres: with God, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with the creation. Put another way, the first couple hung out with God in intimate relationship, found their self-image and meaning in Him, loved each other, and cared for creation, which He made wonderfully for them.
These perfect relationships reflected the holy God that created them. As long as they followed God’s instructions, Adam and Eve experienced abundant life. But in Genesis 3, they chose a different way. Desiring to be “like God†they claimed ownership and began to conceive of things as ‘mine’ (Genesis 3:5). With this counterfeit ownership came all the ills and sorrows of a life separate from God.
And so it is with us. Jesus came to set us free from all the fallout of our ownership ways. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery†(Galatians 5:1). Jesus won the victory for us over the powers that seek to put us in bondage. He freed us to follow Him. When we do, we find ourselves on the journey of the faithful steward. The pathway to life in all its fullness.
June 12-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“It’s All His†by R. Scott Rodin
That journey begins with surrender, an absolute and total giving back. It’s an all-in decision. We set at the feet of Jesus everything we claim to own. Just as God reigns over everything, our surrender permeates all four areas — our relationship with God, with ourselves, our neighbors, and all creation. With us, as with God, it’s all or nothing (see Matthew 6:24).
So, we give Him back our lives, our marriages, our children, our ambitions, our careers, our health, our reputations, our time, our future, our money and all that it buys. We surrender our wealth, our investments, our assets, our pensions, and our possessions. And we surrender the false sense of security they pretend to offer.
Here is the most amazing part of this surrender. The result is not sadness or a sense of loss, but absolute freedom and pure joy! It is the source of our peace and the guarantee of our divine contentment. It is the abundant life Jesus promised us (see John 10:10). Surrender marks the road for taking hold of “the life that is truly life†(1 Timothy 6:19).
This brings us back to where we started with three little words: It’s All His. Say them aloud. They become our declaration of freedom. From this place, we can walk the path of the faithful steward who rejoices in thoughtfully allocating all of God’s resources to giving, saving, and spending in ways that reflect God’s heart.
I pray you know this freedom in every area of life and enjoy each day of your journey as a faithful steward.
June 13-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green, Ministry Investment Officer for Hobby Lobby
A short answer to this question would be that we should invest our earnings in three ways: giving, saving, and spending. How we allocate to these three buckets will be completely based on our heart — the choice is left to us.
Many people today spend all the money they have. Some spend even more than they have. This results in high levels of debt and slavery to lenders (see Proverbs 22:7). This also means there is little, if any, left for giving or saving.
Saving, in plain terms, is living on less than we have earned. Some choose to take that surplus and save it up on earth for themselves rather than store it up in heaven. But Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also†(Matthew 6:21).
From all indications, how we spend money is not what is addressed in this Scripture, but rather why we spend money the way we do.
In essence, God gives us the freedom to spend the money we have earned in whatever way we desire. I believe the passion of our heart determines where our money goes. Basically, our money follows where our heart leads.
Who wants a gift that was involuntary or forced? The best gifts are those given out of a heart of love. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.â€
What the Lord wants is not our money, but our hearts, our love!
June 14-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green
The more we love the Lord and understand the opportunity God gives us to invest in eternal treasure, the more our money will flow into investing in God’s kingdom.
The verses preceding Matthew 6:21 say, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal†(Matthew 6:19-20).
Randy Alcorn addresses the underlying idea of these verses with this statement in his book, The Treasure Principle. "You can't take it [your earnings] with you — but you can send it on ahead." Return on that investment is incalculable, and it lasts forever!
The words of Jesus seem to emphasize this point when He says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life†(Matthew 19:29).
As Randy Alcorn states in The Law of Rewards, I have further concluded, "Christ's primary argument against amassing material wealth isn't that it's morally wrong but simply that it's a poor investment." This world is a foolish location to place our hope and future!
June 15-Purposeful Living
Edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim MacReady
“What does God desire for us to do with what we have?†by Mart Green
So then, what does God desire for us to do with what we have? It seems that He has given us the freedom to choose how to spend our earnings, while also pointing the way. But He never forces us to go there.
How we spend our earnings gives a clear reflection of our heart. The more we understand the Lord's love for us, the more we want to show Him our love with our earnings as well as our time and talent.
Again, we can and should invest our earnings in three ways: giving, saving, and spending. How we allocate to these three buckets will be completely based on our heart — both as we discern how He wants us to allocate and as we recognize the eternal implications of these decisions.
As our heart for God grows, we allocate more to the things He cares about, and we can expect more joy now and in eternity.
Our faith establishes our eternal destination. Our behavior, including how we spend our earnings, determines the eternal rewards we can anticipate when we get there. Let us show our desire for God in the way we handle that which we have earned.
Posted in Daily Devotionals