ESOCS Devotional 12 January 2022
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 4: 1-13
MEMORY VERSE:
“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” 1 Corinthians 4:6 KJV
God owns everything; He is the source of all our wealth, all our personal talents, and all the moments of our lives. We may not take credit for anything we have because whatever we have has been entrusted to us by God to be used cheerfully and generously in His service. God wants us to be content with what we have, knowing that He will provide everything we need for each day. He asks that we use our money wisely, recognizing that someday we will give an account of how we spent it. As a token of our gratitude, He expects us to give a portion of all that we receive to be used in His kingdom. We must use God’s good gifts to serve others, not for our own glory but for His.
God has also given each of us certain abilities to use for Jesus, not with a sense of pride but with gratitude and dedication. Similarly, as Stewards of each moment of time given to us, God calls us to use the time wisely, making the most of every opportunity to live for Him (Ephesians 5:16). Stewards must be faithful in their ministry to care for that which has been entrusted to them. In our case, we must be faithful in preaching and teaching the gospel,l and accounting for whatever is kept in our custody by God. Those who have heard and obeyed the gospel have the responsibility to share it with others.
Just like Paul in our Bible passage of today, we should not allow comments from self-appointed judges affect our decisions concerning what we know we should be doing, as Stewards of God. Paul used himself and Apollos as examples of men from whom we should learn to model our lives. The model he wants us to understand is that we should allow our lives to be governed by the word of God. The principle he wants us to understand is that our pride should not lead us to think that we know more in reference to spirituality than that which has been written. When one behaves with an attitude of pride, he often goes beyond that which is written by binding where God has not bound or loosing where God has not loosened.
Let us therefore, serve God with humility based on the example given by Paul concerning Apollos and himself.
- Have a self-examination of how you are executing you stewardship to God. Eliminate pride wherever you detect it.
- Heavenly father, grant me the grace of true stewardship, devoid of pride
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 63:1-6; 44:6-22; Luke 5:12-26
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ESOCS Devotional 12 January 2022
