How Giving Is A Spiritual Discipline

“Stewardship is God’sec way of raising people, non human being’sec way of raising money” (Willmer, Smith. 2002.)¹

In Romans 12:8 we learn that some excel in the gift of giving, but what about everyone else? We’ve all heard of spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, Bible written written report in addition to fasting, but what nearly giving?

In Romans 12:1 the Lord calls us to a life of complete commitment to Him by urging each of us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. The idea here is that we are, “all in”, so it’s important that we ask ourselves if there are any areas of our life that are not completely surrendered to, and under, the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In other words, have you only given the Lord part of your life as a sacrifice? Are there areas in your life that are currently off limits or that have not been fully surrendered to Him? Oftentimes, this area is how we steward the time, talent and treasure entrusted to us by God. We see an example of this separation in Luke xviii:xviii-23 when a certainly ruler asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Unfortunately, spell he was a sound mortal, his possessions owned him vs. the other way around together with nosotros are left amongst a deplorable ending.

This causes us to look deep within our day-to-day habits and routines and ensure that every area of our life is affected by our walk with Christ. After all, our walk with the Lord is comprised of much more than a spiritual high during a Sunday morning worship service or simply listening to the word of God and not doing what it says. We are called to be 24/7/365 Christians and our role every chip stewards is an essential part of the equation. Or, as Dr. Wesley Wilmer and Martyn Smith (2002) state in, God Your Stuff, “God is non indifferent to our daily financial choices, but is interested inwards transforming all of our lives” (p.23).

What Scripture says virtually Possessions

“Possessions are mentioned 2,172 times inward Scripture—iii times to a greater extent than than dearest, vii times to a greater extent than prayer as good as viii times to a greater extent than belief. About xv percent of God’second Word deals amongst possessions—treasures hidden inwards a champaign, pearls, talents, pounds, stables, together with hence on. Obviously God understood that believers would observe this a hard expanse of their lives to plow over to Him” (Willmer in improver to Smith, 2002, p. nine).

There are four key points the Lord brings forth inward Scripture regarding our possessions:

God owns everything and has provided us all that we have (Psalm fifty:10-12, Psalm 115:sixteen)

We are stewards of what God has provided, which involves management not ownership (1 Pet. 4:10)

Everyone human being was created to give (Gen. 4:4, Lev. 27:xxx, Prov. 3:nine)

Each one of us will give an account of how we manage the resources God has given us (Rom. fourteen:12, 2 Cor. v:10)

So how do we integrate giving into our entire Christian life? Because giving is a spiritual topic expanse it requires a long-term commitment as adept every flake the 24-lx minutes interval-to-xx-iv hours steps that testament aid ensure nosotros are fully surrendered to God every flake stewards. Here are iii tips that testament assistance exercise the spiritual bailiwick of giving:

Declaring Jesus Christ every bit Lord likewise Live out that Declaration – This is the first step on the road of biblical stewardship and living a life of generosity. How we handle our possessions is a reflection of Christ and His Lordship over our lives. If He is Lord, then we realize we are merely stewards of the time, talent and treasure God has entrusted to us. If He is not Lord, then we will continue to see it as our money, our time and our abilities and live accordingly. It’s a choice between two masters and the Lord makes it clear that none of us tin dismiss serve 2 masters. You may notice it helpful to wake upwardly inward improver to pray, “Lord Jesus, today I guide to pick upwards my cross also follow you lot. May every aspect of my life endure fully surrendered to y'all today”.

Understand God’second Word every flake it Relates to Stewardship- Take time read and study passages such as Matthew 25:xiv-xxx and Luke xvi:1-nine, as well as reading books about biblical stewardship. Click here to access 250 verses about money. You can also sign up for an RSS feed that provides one stewardship verse for every 24-hr interval of the yr to assistance cultivate the spiritual apparently of written written report of giving. There’s as well much at stake to not empathise besides grow spiritually inward this area of our lives.

Give to the Lord first no affair what the circumstances – This is some other pace each of us tin keep to locomote to a greater extent similar Christ inward the surface area of stewardship. Rather than paying all the bills as well seeing what’s left for God, do giving God the kickoff fruits of what He has given you lot. Each ane of us should do consistently giving according to our way inward addition to not robbing God when times get tough. Don’t match back to acquire out of debt earlier taking the showtime steps of obedience. Start forthwith off, and demonstrate to the Lord that you lot testament no longer allow worldly debt compete with your devotion as good as commitment to Him.

Readers: How do you lot exercise the spiritual gift of giving? What steps maintain you taken to exercise this champaign of written report on regular dry pose down?

1 – (Willmer, Smith. God as well as Your Stuff. NavPress 2002. p.ix).