October 17
Discipleship
Over the past two weeks
we've looked at two components that should be in the life of a Christian. Mission and Evangelism. Today we will talk
about Discipleship.
When we are called to discipleship. It doesn't mean to just believe in Jesus. It means we are to "be like Jesus", to follow his example, to care for each other, share the "good news", and so on, just as Jesus did.
In today's world we are being compelled from all sides, via advertising, to buy this and that to make life better for us. They try to make us think we need all that stuff to make us better looking, more accepted, and happier. We get so much stuff that we are out of closet space, so we fill our attics and garages. Then when we have no room some of us even rent storage space.
As disciples of Christ, we are not required to give up "all" of our stuff, but to share what we can, so that it could be distributed to those in need. We need to decide what our stuff is worth to us and can we live with less so that someone, who has nothing, can benefit from all of our excess.
Our handout today is: "My Stuff — God's World"
"My Stuff — God's World"
As a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ, how can I be a better steward of my stuff? It doesn't mean that God will lead us to quit our jobs, sell our houses, and head out into the mission fields overseas ... but He might. It might mean that God has already led us to our mission field and to be the light where we work today, where we live, in our own community and neighborhoods. He may be leading us to be like Him with our co-workers, our friends and our families. We just need to be prepared to follow Him wherever He leads.
Think about these things:
Do you possess the possessions, or do they possess you? What impact do these possessions have on ...
· Your life?
· Your health?
· Your finances?
· The earth?
How does this stuff help you honor and glorify God?
We are not the owners of the stuff; we are only the stewards. God has allowed us to have all that we have so we can use the resources entrusted to us for God's purpose and glory. A good question to ask when we are thinking about getting more stuff is this:
Is this what God would have us do as His disciple and steward?