Living Grateful Lives
Main Idea
Stewardship describes the actions motivate by a grateful response to God.
Something to Remember
Related to this central affirmation of God’s sovereignty are other great themes of the Reformed tradition. A faithful stewardship that shuns ostentation and seeks proper use of the gifts of God’s creation; the recognition of the human tendency to idolatry and tyranny, which calls the people of God to work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the Word of God.
We spent the first third of our time together talking about all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Then we began to talk about God’s law and the practices of the Christian faith. This is because what we do is a response to what God has done for us.
We discovered that the Christian life begins with receiving the grace of God and responds with thanksgiving for all of God’s gifts. We then learn something else—if we have received grace, we can give grace to others. Understanding this will help us understand the concept of stewardship. Stewardship is really about recognizing that our salvation is from God. But don’t stop with salvation—all good things in our lives are gifts from God.
So, how should we use those gifts? Look at the world. While created and declared good by God, the world is broken under the weight of human sin. God expects us to use our gifts to help heal the world’s brokenness. What kind of talent, skill, or interest do you have? How do you think it could help the world? You will discover that amazing things will happen to you as you gratefully use your gifts for the sake of Christ’s mission in the world. If you place your ordinary life, the things you do daily, before God, you will be changed from the inside out. God gives us everything in Jesus Christ. We say “thank you” by giving ourselves back to God.
Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts