4.Business or Employment
Whether we own our business or work for another, the principle is still the same: We should work our profession "heartily, as unto the Lord"
Colossians 3:22-23
22Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
Proverbs 22:29
29Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
Ephesians 6:5-9
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Titus 2:9,10
9Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
5. Ministry - Unique gifts and calling
Be Faithful to serve God in the little things and He will promote you - Luke 16:10
Also See: 1st Peter 5:6,7 & Proverbs 18:16
1st Peter 4:10
10As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Ephesians 2:10
10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
**To read more about Spiritual Gifts see: Romans 12:3-8 & 1st Corinthians 12:4-27
6. Finances and Material Possessions.
Luke 16:10-11
10He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Matthew 6:19-21
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Proverbs 3:9
9Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
**Also see: Proverbs 11:24 & Proverbs 17:16
7. Personal Well-being. Emotional & Physical
1st Corinthians 6:19-20
19Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Also see: John 10:10 & 3rd John 2
Maybe you're saying, "I want to be a better steward in some of these areas." Or maybe all of them even. You won't change it overnight I can assure you, You will need to take practical steps in your life to make it happen. By careful self evaluation you can find your problem areas and then incorporate a plan to improve in your life.
This should be done in 3 practical steps:
1.Thoughtful consideration and planning.
2. Re-prioritizing your life.
3. Diligently following through with it.
In doing so don't become legalistic (acting as if your salvation depends on it), for it doesn't. We can never merit our salvation by doing works. This 2 part blog teaching is just a model that may give you some direction. My pastor Steve Watson in North Carolina gave the teaching originally and this blog is a result of it. Hope it helps!
