Thoughts on Stewardship Lessons from Genesis
Blessed to be a Blessing
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 12 verses 1-3 and Genesis 13 verses 1-2
Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. Genesis 13:1-2 NKJV
1. In order for God to bless Abram, He had to take him out of where he was and He also had to take where he was out of him! God had a great plan for Abram and his descendants and in order to fulfill this plan, God had to take Abram out from his current surroundings. Sometimes we are limited by our circumstances and by the people around us. We are stuck in the same old rut and we need to be shaken up and our eyes opened to all the possibilities that are available to us in the Lord. If we want to walk in the blessings of God, we may have to make some defining choices. We will need to leave the influence and company of those who are negative and destructive and who are leading us away from the plans and purposes God has for us, and press into God for His will for our lives.
God separated Abram from his kinsmen and their gods so that Abram could come to know the true God and serve Him alone. God had a plan to bless Abram and to make him a great blessing to ALL the families of the earth!
2. God’s promises to Abram:
a. I will make you a great nation.
b. I will bless you.
c. I will make your name great.
d. You will be a blessing.
3. God will bring you out in order to bring you in—He will bless you to be a blessing:
a. You were born to be blessed.
b. You were born to be a blessing.
c. You cannot be a blessing if you are not blessed.
d. There is MORE than enough blessing to go around so that EVERYONE can be blessed.
Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
The Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills—He has more than enough provision for everyone on the earth—He has more than enough for you. You need to change the way you think and believe so that you can start to see yourself as God sees you. In Psalms 21:6, David says that God made him (David) to be blessed and a blessing forever and that applies to all those who love and obey God. Begin to expect God’s blessing in your life. Thank God for His blessings—rejoice and praise Him for them. SEE yourself as a blessing. BE a blessing wherever you are every day. Don’t wait until you have what you think you need to be a blessing. Just do what you can and give what you have right now. Be a blessing to everyone who crosses your path. Watch the Lord transform your life!
Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
I purposed in my heart many years ago that I wanted my life to count for eternity and that I wanted to be a blessing. I was blessed with godly parents and I had been raised in a godly home, so I had a good foundation in my life that ought to have brought blessings to me. However, I knew that God was calling me out and that I had to move to obey the call of God. God called me to America even as a young boy. I knew that I would go to America and that all I needed was God’s perfect time and the open door. I had to get up from where I was, take my family—my wife and three children—and travel to the United States of America and obey heaven’s call to be a missionary. Adonica and I climbed aboard the 747, with our three children and $300 cash, and when we landed in America in December of 1987 we had an excitement and an expectation in our heart. We knew that the Lord had promised not only to bless us, as we obeyed Him, but also to make us a blessing unto many!
God blessed Abram and he paid tithes to Melchizedek. Abram was a generous person. Look at how kind he was to Lot. Remember, that the Word of God declares that if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). You were born to be a blessing and you were born to be blessed! God has blessings for you that cannot be contained, and it all begins with a seed. We purposed in our hearts to give our way into God’s blessings, and it worked! Open your heart as you sow seed today.
Confession and prayer:
I was born to be a blessing and I was born to be blessed! Father, teach me your ways and I promise you I will be a giver and be a blessing to the world.
Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 AMP
Paul spoke these words to Timothy, but they are true for all of us, who are disciples of Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who has been trained by God’s word and by His Spirit; someone who has grown up in the Lord over time; not a brand new believer or a baby Christian. As with natural children, spiritual children grow and mature. As our children mature, we expect more of them. As we mature, God expects more of us. We must not behave like a spiritual baby or make excuses for it. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should not sin or make excuses for sin. We have no grounds for excuses. The blood of Jesus not only washed away our sin, but it deprived sin of its power over us (Romans 6:6-7).
Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). 1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP
Paul obediently submitted himself to the Word and Spirit of God, following the example Jesus set, not for his own benefit alone, but as an example, or a pattern, for us to follow. Jesus is our ultimate example. We are to follow Him and be an example and pattern to others of His love, humility, grace, and purity. Even if we are young in age, we can still walk in the wisdom of God and His righteousness, earning the respect of others. God expects us to be a good example to other believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
In speech:
For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. James 3:2 AMP
The person who can control his mouth is a person who is mature in God and who has submitted himself to God’s word and His Spirit, to the best of his ability. This person is wise in his speech, gracious and loving. Ephesians 4:15 says that we should speak the truth in love. Colossians 4:6 says that our speech should at all times be gracious, as if it were seasoned with salt.
In conduct:
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Titus 2:6-8 NKJV
God wants us to show a pattern of good works – integrity in word and deed. That means it should be a habit for us; a way of life.
In love:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NKJV
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV
The love of God manifested in our lives demonstrates two things: that we know the Lord Jesus Christ and that we are disciples of His. This means that we have allowed God to do a work in us so that He can work through us. We are conformed to His image and we obey Him in all things.
In faith:
We ought and indeed are obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing exceedingly and the love of every one of you each toward the others is increasing and abounds. 4 And this is a cause of our mentioning you with pride among the churches (assemblies) of God for your steadfastness (your unflinching endurance and patience) and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions under which you are holding up. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 AMP
Faith is manifested in two ways: belief and commitment (faithfulness). Because we believe in the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and His Word, we obey Him and therefore we stand firm through all kinds of persecutions and difficulties. This is an example and encouragement to other believers.
In purity:
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 AMP
The Word of God tells us to flee everything that is impure and fix our thoughts on those things that are pure. Just as Jesus and Paul are our examples, our models, so we should desire and strive to be a good example to others so that they too can live a godly life and experience the joy and the blessings of obeying and serving our wonderful, gracious Lord and Savior!