Walking In God’s Favor: I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency. Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible
Many Level 1 Stewards become comfortable at this point of their stewardship journey. They have learned to trust God and accept whatever circumstances the vicissitudes of life brings. I heard a preacher say, “I don’t mind living hand to mouth as long as the hand is God”.
Level 1 Stewards have some of the most inspiring testimonies of God’s power working in their behalf. They have personally encountered the Holy Spirit operating in their lives. As a Level 1 Steward, I remember several years ago riding on an empty tank of gas for three days.
There is no doubt in my mind that it was the hand of God working on my behalf. I was a relatively new believer in the principle of tithing. I was struggling with the decision of returning to God 10% of my income off the top before I paid my bills. If I was faithful to God, I would not have enough money to put gas in our car to travel to my customers businesses as an insurance agent.
In faith, I returned my tithe and gave a love offering on top of the tithe. God intervened into my reality and for three days I drove my car on an empty tank of gas. God is awesome! God intervened to encourage me to trust in Him. There is nothing like the power of God operating in your reality.
I also remember how I felt, several weeks after that awesome experience of driving my car on an empty tank of gas for three days. I ran out of gas on the corner of Oakwood Ave and Pulaski Pike in Huntsville, Alabama with a pocket full of money in front of a gas station. What I learned, while in Level I Stewardship, is that God is not going to do for you, what you can do for yourself.
For me to think that if I tithe, every time my gas tank is empty, God will miraculously fill it when He has already blessed me with the money to fill my tank, is unhealthy thinking. God expects us to grow in faith and wisdom.
If you desire to move to the next level of stewardship, you must make a decision to grow. You have only seen the tip of what God can manifest in your life when you allow God to grow His Spirit of wisdom into you. God is willing and able to move you to the next level of your spiritual discovery.
Prayer of Blessings: Heavenly Father, move us to a higher level in our giving and living.
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 and blog weekly from their financial workbook ” The Stewardship of Wealth“.
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