We Need More?

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Need More? Learn to be Content
In this world of economic distress, we tend to want “more” — more money, more jobs, more physical security. In the church, we want “more” as well –- more attendance, more giving, more workers. All of that might sound good but is it what we need most? Maybe we need to shift from what we need more of to what we need most. Then, we can be content no matter what we have.

The Apostle Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12-13)

Shifts From What We Need More Of to What We Need Most

Our perspective changes when we live like God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). We already have what we truly need so let’s focus on what matters most.

  1. We need to shift from a focus on external needs to the internal.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov. 4:23)

Do we want to be “more” of who God wants us to be, “more” of the person or Church who will truly be used of God to make a difference in today’s world? Then we must walk in Spirit so He bears within us the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal. 5:13-26). These qualities enable us to act and react with truth and grace in times of both plenty and want

  1. We need to shift from a quest for fulfilling earthly needs to seeking first the kingdom.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matt. 6:33)

As His Church, are we more concerned about “being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” or about the physical structure in which we meet? This world isn’t our real home. Ultimately the perishable will be “clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53-54), so why do we give priority to our earthly needs? When it’s about His kingdom, we don’t need to engage in all the political maneuvering to get what we need. Rather, we cast our cares on the Lord knowing that He will sustain us (Ps. 55:22).

  1. We need a shift from being more concerned with “things” we need to the people around us.

Above all, love each other deeply … . (1 Pet. 4:8)

Do we see the crowds of people around us in need of Jesus’ love and compassion (Matt. 9:36) or are we more focused on our programs, activities, and personal needs? Without love anything else lacks real merit (1 Cor. 13:1-3). Jesus said that “all the Law and Prophet hang on” two commandments — loving God and loving people (Matt. 22:37-40). With love as our priority, people trump things.

No matter how difficult life might seem, we can find the psalmists experience to be true in our own lives when we make that shift from what we need more of to what we need most.

I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Ps. 16:8-11)

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The Way God Made Us Gives People Purpose

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God Made People to Have Purpose
In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. After separating light from darkness and gathering the water so dry land would appear, He told the land to produce different kinds of plants and vegetation. After putting lights in the sky to separate day from night, He made creatures to fill the waters and winged birds to fly in the sky. Finally, He created animals of different sorts to roam the land, culminating with His creation of human beings.

People, made in His image and likeness, would be special and superior. While all He created had a purpose, the way God made people gave them a significant purpose to fulfill for which they would be responsible.

A Participation with God’s Work

From the beginning God made it clear that He wanted people to work in cooperation with Him. He brought the animals He had created “to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name” (Gen. 2:19). Certainly God didn’t need people’s help, and could undoubtedly have done a better job Himself, but He wanted people involved. Participation, not perfection, was His goal.

Through the pages of Scripture we continue reading of God getting people involved in His work here on earth in various ways. Even today, we are to be “co-workers in God’s service” (1 Cor. 3:9).

Implications: Let’s make sure we not only provide opportunities for people to serve in the church but also help them understand that ministry is about purposefully participating with our All-Powerful, Creator God. Each person’s part is significant to Him and therefore should be to us as well.

As members of His Church, we have been given special empowerments, called spiritual gifts, to serve in cooperation with Him as dispensers of His grace. — “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Pet. 4:10) — People will be more prone to get involved when they sense a purpose in what they’re doing and they feel they are equipped to succeed. (For more on spiritual gifting, go to: Spiritual Gifts Resources)

A Purpose That’s a Stewardship

Having been made in the image and likeness of God, people had the ability to “rule over” all the other creation. God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Gen. 1:26). They were “to be fruitful and increase, to subdue and rule over the rest of creation” (Gen. 1:28). “God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Gen. 2:15)

Implications: Since God made humans to be responsible, let’s encourage one another to be faithful stewards of all He’s given us. We will one day stand before Him accountable (1 Cor. 3:9-15). Let’s make the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:15-16).

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Stewardship: Stewards of All, in All, and Always

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Stewardship
God has always expected people to be good stewards of all He has provided. Stewardship has not changed. Good things happen when we’re faithful. What we do to His glory will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). We may not always see the results in this life but we can trust Him to keep His promises.

Stewardship Has Always Been Expected

Beginning in the Garden of Eden, God gave mankind the responsibility to manage earthly resources (Gen. 1:27-31). When God called the descendants of Abraham to be His people, He entrusted them with further responsibility, that of being faithful in spiritual matters. Jesus taught about accountability (Matt. 25:14-30) when he lived on earth and will bring us into account for what we have done at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:9-16). In the interim, as His Church, we’re expected to “faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).

Being a Steward is All Inclusive, Making a Difference in How We Live

Whether physical or spiritual resources, “it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). Time, talent, money, spiritual gifts, our physical beings? — all to be used to the glory of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 10:31).

If we truly understand that all we have is from God (Ps. 24:1) and we are merely stewards of it, then it should affect our attitudes and the way we walk through life.

  • Shouldn’t we learn to be content within our means … whether that be little or much? (Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:7-9; Heb. 13:5)
  • Shouldn’t we be wise in how we live and how we use what we have … proactive, not merely reactive? (Prov. 22:3; 24:3; 27:23; Eph. 5:15; Col. 4:5)
  • Shouldn’t we be generous with what we have … rather than stingily hang on to it or waste it like it belongs to us? (Ps. 37:21; Matt. 5:42; Mk. 12:41-44; 2 Cor. 8:2-3, 9:6-7; 1 Jn. 3:17)

Get More Help on Being a Good Steward: Biblical Stewardship Resources

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Life in Christ Jesus

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Have you ever reflected on what life in Christ Jesus really means? What does it do for us here and now? Trusting in Jesus as our Savior is more than a means to get to heaven. It affects us in our daily lives not just our eternal destiny.

What Life in Christ Jesus Leads To Right Now

Life in Christ Seated with Him in the Heavenly Realms
Take some time to reflect on Ephesians 2:6 and you’ll discover four realities we have in Christ that will make a huge difference in our lives right now.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Eph. 2:6)

  1. Power – “And God raised us up with Christ”

Jesus conquered sin and death through His death and resurrection. Being raised with Him suggests His power for us to live victorious now because of His grace toward us.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2:4-5)

His was a physical resurrection and ours is spiritual with the physical yet to come. Because of His resurrection power, we can live from a place of newness, not bound by our old sin nature. (Read: Col. 3:1-14)

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  1. Peace – “and seated us with Him”

To be able to sit down with our Lord Jesus denotes the fellowship we can enjoy with Him. That’s a place of rest and security. Being in His presence leads to peace (1 Jn. 3:19).

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  1. Perspective – “in the heavenly realms”

In Jesus we have a new citizenship, in heaven (Phil. 3:20). When we look at life from our position in the heavenly places, we gain a perspective that enables us to rise above whatever may come our way in this life.

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  1. Purpose – “in Christ Jesus”

As the Apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). To live for Christ is about more than just doing what Jesus would do but becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). This is God’s objective for us “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). We are a demonstration of His grace.

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Caught Up in the Mundane Things of Life?

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Oh, the mundane things of life! At home we must do cleaning, lawn care, pay bills, etc. In the church we must concern ourselves with record keeping, finances, safety issues, scheduling, etc. We might wish we could spend that time doing activities of more eternal value. But wait … is it God’s intent for us to compartmentalize life? Doesn’t all of our time belong to Him? Shouldn’t who we are in Christ affect all that we do?

If Caught Up in the Mundane Things of Life, Stop Compartmentalizing

Think about the purpose we’d have if we made more of a conscientious effort to run all of what we do, even that which seems mundane, through the grid of who we are in Christ and His purposes, design, and mission for the Church.
Do Even Mundane Things in Jesus' Name

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:17)

Think about the perspective we’d have if we looked at all of life from our position with Christ in the heavenlies.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6)

Think about the power we’d have for all of life if we applied Jesus’ words about abiding, or remaining, in Him to all areas of life.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn. 15:5)

What Happens When We Don’t Compartmentalize Life

Perhaps if we approached what we view as the mundane things of life through our spiritual eyes we wouldn’t find ourselves fighting over these issues. So many homes and churches are broken apart because we push our own agendas in the mundane things of life rather than seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33).

Maybe we’d bear more spiritual fruit if we looked to Christ for strength and sustenance in all we do rather than just for what seems like obvious ministry opportunities (Jn. 15:4-5). Some of the best divine appointments can come when we least expect them.

When we stop compartmentalizing, it takes our lives, and churches, to a new level. We begin to understand that we can reflect Christ at all times in everything we do, even the mundane. Our light shine at all times and God is glorified (Matt. 5:14-16).

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Acquiring Wisdom

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No one can dispute the need for wisdom in today’s world. Who doesn’t need it? Needing wisdom, however, isn’t new to our generation or to the times in which we now live. God provided an entire book of the Bible, Proverbs, written for the purpose of “gaining wisdom and understanding” which begins with a process for acquiring the wisdom we so desperately need.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance … (Prov. 1:1-5)

Process for Acquiring the Wisdom Needed

Take a closer look at Proverbs 1:1-5 and you’ll find a process for acquiring wisdom that we would do well to follow.

1) Instruction: to know

We will not know how to walk in wisdom without instruction.

2) Insight: to discern

We must get to the root of issues, looking beyond the obvious.

3) Implication: to be prudent

We must go beyond mental discernment, however, to seeing the practical use of truth in our daily life situations and relations.

4) Implementation: to be disciplined

We must actually plan how to realistically apply this good judgment to situations with which we must deal in life.

5) Intake: to add to your learning

We must realize that we will never stop learning, that there is always something new to take in.

Knowing what to do is usually the easy part. Figuring out how to apply it to specific situations and then doing it is where wisdom really comes in.

Starting Point in Our Acquisition of Wisdom

The wisdom we need must begin with God. Otherwise we’ll simply have human wisdom which so often fails us.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Prov. 1:7)

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Prov. 2:6)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

If we don’t start on the right foundation, we might build a structure that seems to make sense but won’t be able to withstand the strong winds of adversity (Matt. 7:24-27).

Acquiring Wisdom to Walk in Wisdom

The Walk the Walk in Wisdom Devotional Study Guide pulls on verses from the book of Proverbs, using the first four “I’s of Wisdom” as a pattern in each of the 30 devotions. It comes with the prayer that you will then continue to add to your learning (the fifth “I”, intake) to keep growing in your walk as a result.

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