Walking In God’s Favor: But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV)
Level 4 Stewards humbly recognize the awesome power of God’s favor in their lives. They can feel God’s protection covering their lives and they have personally experienced over and over again God opening doors for them. They know, that they know, that they know they know, God has given them the power to have surplus in their lives.
They cheerfully give their first fruit off the top and then some. They have moved beyond the 10% tithe and generously give a love offering out of their surplus. Level 4 Stewards have a personal covenant with God and are living examples of what faithfulness is all about.
I agree with Antonio McGinnis when he says in his book The Game Is Deep “There is no greater feeling than being prepared for every opportunity when it comes your way”. The Level 4 Stewards live each day as if it is their last day, but plan as if they are going to live forever.
Most of us know instinctively, that we should have a will and last testament, living health directive and power of attorney in the invent of a major accident or accidental death. But how many of us invest in the time to secure these valuable life documents. We spending more time planning for a vacation then we do planning for our lives.
When Ardella and I invested in the time to plan our future lives together it was very enlightening. We begin to think about our financial assets and the kind of legacy we desired to leave to our children and grand children. We considered the physical and medical challenges of aging together gracefully. More importantly, we shared our deepest thoughts of how we each wanted to live our last days and hours of life on this planet.
Many faithful stewards will never experience Level 4 Stewardship in their life time. The will never feel the peace of God in this area of financial maturity and responsibility. They have no desire to move past the known life of stability into the unknown life of surplus.
The Level 4 Steward’s life has become a reservoir of God’s bountiful blessings. Blessing seems to overflow in the Level 4 Steward’s life. I heard someone say it like this, ” I am drinking from my saucer because my cup is overflowing”. When God showers His blessing down on the faithful in Level 4 Stewardship, they wisely store some of their surplus for their future, their legacy, and for the storms of life.
Prayer of Blessings: Heavenly Father, our life is in Your hands.
Michael Vance is a senior account executive with Hundley Batts & Associates and the co-founder of stewardshipofwealth.com. Ardella Vance is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the Pathfinders Club. A global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vance’s have been married well over 25 years and share their lives with four adult children and four grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama.
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