The Blessed Life, The Blessed Church
One Life, One Opportunity
We only have one life. The question is, what are we going to do with it?
Lanny Wolfe’s song, Only One Life, echoes this sentiment:
Only one life, so soon it will pass,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one chance to do His will,
So give to Jesus all your days,
It’s the only life that pays,
When you recall, you have but one life.
This truth is at the core of Christian stewardship. How we manage our time, talents, and resources determines the impact we have for the Kingdom of God.
The Call to Stewardship
Stewardship is not just about money—it is about managing every aspect of our lives to honour God. Christian stewardship means recognizing that everything we have belongs to God, and we are simply caretakers.
Key Principles of Christian Stewardship
1. God’s Ownership – Everything belongs to God (Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8).
2. Accountability – We will give an account of how we used our lives (Matthew 25:14–30).
3. Faithfulness – We must use our time and talents wisely (1 Corinthians 4:2).
4. Generosity – God calls us to be generous in every aspect of life (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
5. Serving Others – Stewardship includes using our gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
Jesus must be Lord over our lives. The word Lord means Owner. If we call Jesus our Lord, it means we submit fully to Him and acknowledge that He is in complete possession of us.
A Biblical Warning: Judges 5:23
In Judges 5, the angel of the Lord pronounces a curse on the people of Meroz—not because of what they did, but because of what they failed to do.
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. – Judges 5:23
Meroz stood by idly when God’s people were in battle. They had an opportunity to make a difference, but they chose to remain passive.
God is looking for action. Christianity is not defined by what we avoid but by what we actively do for God.
The Battle We Are In
There is a war raging today—a battle for souls, truth, and righteousness. The spiritual war we face includes:
Right vs. Wrong
Truth vs. Error
God’s Word vs. Man’s Ideas
Purity vs. Corruption
What are you going to do with the one life God has given you?
The Parable of the Talents
In Matthew 25:14-15, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. The Master entrusts His servants with His goods and expects them to use what they have been given.
Key takeaways:
The talents belonged to the Master (God), not the servants.
The servants were given resources according to their ability.
They were judged not by how much they produced, but by their faithfulness.
Our talents, skills, and abilities are given to us by God. But they must be developed to reach their full potential.
God gives us acorns, but we pray for trees.
Time: A Precious Resource
Ephesians 5:16-17 urges us to make the best use of our time.
Covey’s Big Rocks Illustration teaches us that if we don’t prioritize important things first, they will never fit into our schedule. We must put God’s priorities first.
Do you review your schedule and priorities with God?
Do you seek His will in how you spend your time?
Are you making time for what truly matters?
Treasure: The Biblical Approach to Giving
Jesus taught extensively about money and possessions:
16 of His 38 parables address finances.
1 in 10 verses in the Gospels deal with money.
Three Levels of Giving
1. Tithes (10%) – The foundation of biblical giving (Malachi 3:10).
2. Offerings – Giving above the tithe to support the work of God.
3. Extravagant Giving – Giving beyond what is comfortable, like Mary’s costly offering (John 12).
God’s Order of Financial Blessing
Most people handle money like this:
1. Earn it
2. Enjoy it
3. Repay debt
4. Save it
5. Give what’s left
But God’s order for financial blessing is:
1. Earn it
2. Give first
3. Save second
4. Repay debt
5. Enjoy what remains
Generosity: A Reflection of God’s Nature
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25
The story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 illustrates how generosity leads to blessing. Her act of kindness toward Elisha resulted in an unexpected miracle—she was blessed with a son. When tragedy struck, that same generosity opened the door for her son's resurrection.
Generosity is more than giving money; it is a way of life. It is a reflection of our trust in God.
The Test of Generosity
Generosity is a test of faith. Judas Iscariot failed this test, while Mary of Bethany passed it by giving extravagantly to Jesus. Money is both a tool and a test—it reveals where our trust lies.
A Generous Church
The early church in Antioch (Acts 13) was a missions-focused church. Unlike the Jerusalem church, which faded into obscurity, Antioch thrived because they prioritized outreach.
Generous churches:
Support missions
Invest in people
Celebrate giving as an act of worship
Sacrificial giving is not about abundance—it’s about priority.
Final Challenge: What Will You Do?
The story of Mary of Bethany in Mark 14 is a powerful example of one person making a lasting impact. She had one moment to do something significant for Jesus, and she seized it.
Two choices:
Mary’s choice – She gave her best to Jesus, and her story is still told today.
Judas’ choice – He traded Jesus for temporary gain.
What will your choice be?
It’s Your Time
There is a battle for your heart, your purpose, and your devotion. Will you step into your calling? Will you use your gifts for God’s glory?
Generosity creates a legacy. Mary’s act of generosity is remembered because she took one chance, made one choice, and seized one moment.
What will be said of your life? Will you be remembered as someone who had potential, or as someone who did something great for God?
The choice is yours. What will you do with the one life God has given you?