stewardship – PAOLOPUNZALAN.COM

“SHOULD I SHIFT CAREERS?”

My wife and I were in a wedding recently. Jenn was asked by a friend on wisdom what to do with her current situation. This friend of ours was in a great company with substantial compensation, working in a beautiful city abroad.

But she felt unfulfilled, unsure and dissatisfied. Jenn was asked what our friend should do. My wife who has great wisdom gave an insight that I thought was worth sharing.

Invest your life in something that will yield eternal dividends.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19,20)

Does that mean she should get into ministry? Was Jenn suggesting that our friend get into church work? Did she imply quitting and become a missionary? Absolutely not.

Investing our life in something that yields eternal dividends entails finding what God is doing and contributing to accomplishing that goal in your own little way.

To some, it may be earning beyond what they need monthly so that they can help ministries that reach people who haven’t heard of Christ. For others, it may be using your talents to advance the kingdom of God through arts, media, athletics, music, and others. For certain people, it may be staying where they’re at and finding God’s purpose for the platform they have at the moment.

But the most important thing is to find out what God is doing and then fling your life into it.

I love what Steve Murrell said,

“It doesn’t matter how we will be remembered. What matters is if we did what God told us to do.”

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord for putting me where I am today. Show me if this is where I need to be or if there’s a better place You’d be able to use me to share Your love to the people I encounter. May I understand the purpose of my season and discern when my time is up so I can move on to Your next assignment for me. The most important thing is that I am in the center of Your will, doing what You’ve called me to do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

STICKING TO YOUR CALLING

Reading through the book of Nehemiah for our recent series “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo,” I noticed a shift in chapter 8.
Nehemiah takes a step back and Ezra steps in to read the Book of the Law to the people of Israel.

It’s interesting that Nehemiah didn’t step beyond what God called him to do – to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

As the church continues to grow by the grace of God, many have come suggesting that we need to focus on this more, teach on that better, prioritize this more and concentrate on that a bit more.

Hinging from what we read in Nehemiah, not understanding the call and stewardship God has given may lead to confusion.

Lesson? Know what God’s called you to do and stick to it. Well meaning people with wonderful intentions may come and suggest which will inadvertently distract you from what God’s called you to do.

So what is it for Victory? HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

As Steve Murrell would put it, it’s the same ole’ boring strokes.

While the method may change, the message has remained the same throughout these years: Preach Christ and Him crucified.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

MONEY AND MINISTRY BUDGETS

Recently, we (Metro Manila pastors) had to prepare, review, revisit and recompute budgets for different ministry departments in the church for 2011. We have a board that reviews, checks, evaluates and keeps everything in line to make sure we adhere to the highest standards of integrity and biblical stewardship.

As I’ve learned from our pastors and leaders through the years, here are a few guiding principles I work with regarding ministry budgeting.

1. PRINCIPLE OF OWNERSHIP.

God owns it all. If everything is His, how much of it is ours? Absolutely NONE. We are merely stewards of what we have been entrusted with. It is an awesome responsibility that is to be handled with ‘fear and trembling.’

2. PRINCIPLE OF GENEROSITY.

God blesses us to be a blessing. This has resonated in my heart since I was a new Christian. That is why in my personal budgeting, I have no qualms with ‘belt-tightening’ because that would result in many avenues to bless others.

Even as a church, we ‘tithe’, give offerings, bless and help others (individuals and ministries).

3. PRINCIPLE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

I remember Pastor Steve asked me this question one time when I was still in charge of Kids Ministry at Fort Bonifacio, “Will you spend what you’re spending on in this particular church activity if it was coming from your own wallet?”

We have a responsibility, not to forget an accountability, to steward the finances we’ve been entrusted with.

4. PRINCIPLE OF GRACE.

There’s absolutely nothing that we deserve. We are here because of the grace of God. We cannot start thinking that because I’ve been in this for a long time, then I deserve something in return.

You and I deserve HELL, PUNISHMENT and ETERNAL SEPARATION from God. That’s what we deserve.

One of the things we need to watch out for is the attitude of entitlement. You don’t want to go there. You can’t afford to and you shouldn’t.