It’s no secret that we live in a self-focused world. All you have to do is go on social media, turn on the tv, or drive down the interstate and look at billboards. The world tells us that life is all about us. Our days should be spent focused on making ourselves look better physically, feel better emotionally, and get all the things that we could want, no matter the cost.
Scripture tells us the opposite. Jesus tells us that life is about glorifying God and serving others. Though this command may seem difficult, believers are called to live differently. We have been given a set number of days that we are to steward for building God’s kingdom.
Stewarding Our Time
One way we can live differently is through our time. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are only given 24 hours in a day. Paul writes in Romans 12 that we are to daily renew our minds. We do this by spending our time focused on God, His Word, and His people.
The world is constantly fighting for our attention and our affections. We are in a daily battle to center our hearts on Christ. The good news is that we don’t have to do this out of our own strength. The indwelling Holy Spirit helps us and enables us to refocus our minds on Jesus.
If you’re wondering what has your heart, take stock of what your prayers are focused on. Are they mainly centered around your wants and needs or the wants and needs of others and what God would have for you?
Once our minds are focused on Christ, it changes our perspective on how we spend our days. No longer do we want to center our days on our own agenda, but we want to spend them in God’s Word, with God’s people, and making the name of Christ known throughout the world.
When we live like this, we are going to stand out. It may mean that friends and family question our decisions. We may even face rejection. But choosing to spend our time for the sake of Christ is never a waste.
Stewarding Our Talents
Another way we steward our lives is through our talents. God has naturally gifted us with skills and passions in addition to giving us spiritual gifts. How are you using your gifts to bring glory and honor to His name?
For some, it may mean quitting your job that promotes godless living for a job that promotes godly living. For others, it could mean taking your talents to a job where there are no believers so that you can be a light in a dark work environment. For some, it may mean starting a new ministry or outreach to your neighbors.
God has specifically gifted you for a reason. He wants to use you in His kingdom. We simply have to be willing and say yes to the opportunities before us.
Stewarding Our Treasures
Another way to steward our days is through our treasures. Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. The purpose of our lives is not to buy more things. Instead, we are to leverage all that we have for the sake of the gospel.
At the end of our lives, we are not going to be able to take our earthly possessions with us. Instead, we are going to meet our Savior face-to-face and give an account for how we utilize the gifts and means He’s given us.
The gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything about our everything. When we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord in our lives, we can’t help but want to share it with others.
When the church started in Acts 2, we read that the believers gave everything they had for the care and community of other believers (Acts 2:42-45). The redemption found in Jesus changed their hearts and lives in a way that the treasures of the world became means to be shared with others.
The call is the same for us today. How has the truth of the gospel changed your life? What treasures do you have that could be shared with others?
Our world tells us that our truth and our desires are ultimate. Christ tells us a life of faithfulness and servant-heartedness is the true ultimate way of living. Will you follow Him today?
