Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CCh - Counsels for the Church (1991) Chapter 48—Counsels on Stewardship
Practice economy in your homes. By many, idols are cherished and worshiped. Put away your idols. Give up your selfish pleasures. Do not, I entreat you, absorb means in embellishing your houses, for it is God’s money, and it will be required of you again. Parents, for Christ’s sake do not use the Lord’s money in pleasing the fancies of your children. Do not teach them to seek after style and ostentation in order to gain influence in the world. Will this incline them to save the souls for whom Christ died? No; it will create envy, jealousy, and evil surmising. Your children will be led to compete with the show and extravagance of the world, and to spend the Lord’s money for that which is not essential to health or happiness. {CCh 282.1}
More and more people today are manipulated into spending money on things they don’t need or are essential. Advertisers bombard the public with ads via any medium possible. Thing is, people are so easily sold that they buy things (stuff) that they wouldn’t otherwise if they had not been mesmerized by all the fanciful ads with special effects. Parents, teach your children of that which is important in this life. It is not fancy clothes or cars or houses, it is their salvation which matters most. God cares not about your possessions; He cares about what is in your heart. Seek not after idols, God is a jealous God. The things in this world will not save anyone. Use the means that God has entrusted to you for His work, to carry out the plan of salvation. Use the Lord’s money to carry out your role in saving souls. Be a blessing unto others, and in so doing, you will be blessed.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for all the blessings You continue to shower upon us. For giving us the strength and wherewithal to be able to obtain the means for our provisions. We are but stewards of this money, which rightfully all belongs to You. So, we pray that You may put it upon our hearts to continue to give back to You so that Your plan of salvation may be carried out locally, as well as far and wide. To not waste Your money by spending it on frivolous things, but instead for saving souls, that Your people may be blessed to become a part of Your Royal Family. We confess and repent of our sins and ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Keep us faithful in our giving. In the name of Jesus Christ, we thank You and praise You. Amen.
