Walking in God’s favor: Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4 (NIV)
The most cherish possessions you can leave someone is your faith in Jesus Christ.
We Christians in America have become so materialistic in our thinking. You have probably heard someone say, ” The one who dies with the most toys wins” or “The one with the gold makes the rules.”
The things in this world are temporal, but the things of God are eternal. I believe Jesus Christ is returning for a people – not possessions. So, what are you doing to build intimate relationships with those you love? How are you investing your financial resources to better your relationship with God and meaningful others?
Communication is what makes your relationships strong.
When you develop intimate relationships, you do it one-to-one. Your attention is focused on one person. Their needs become your priority. Dr David and Teresa Ferguson, co-authors of Intimate Encounters says, “Intimate relationships takes time and communications.”
Ardella and I have learned to schedule time to be alone with each other to increase our marital intimacy. No children, no grandchildren, we forget about our work, our ministries, we turn off our smart phones and we take time to focus our attention on each other.
This includes sharing one’s feelings, putting one another first, sympathetic listening, and caring for one another. Sharing your heart with family and having meaningful relationships with others is what life is truly about. Life is meant to be shared. Sharing the love of God with those we care about is priority for the Level 4 Steward.
Fullfilment and satisfaction comes from sharing with others.
There is nothing like the power of your own life story. Everyone has a story to tell. How are you being blessed today? Sharing your life experiences with others encourages them and gives them hope. Tell others how you have overcome life’s struggles; how your faith brings stability in your life; how living by biblical principles gives you the wisdom to look around the corner to prepare for the storms of life. And finally tell others of your spiritual discovery for your life’s work.
You are invited to join us next month February 7th at 12 noon at the First Seventh-day Adventist Church Wednesday noon POP (People Praying Over People) I will have the wonderful opportunity to share our journey. Over the years we have been blessed to mentor hundreds of young families in their finances. I will discuss eight life lessons we discovered that can change your family tree.
Prayer of blessing: Lord help me to value relationships.
Michael J. Vance is a financial & benefit risk manager with Hundley Batts & Associates Insurance Agency and president of the Northeast Alabama Chapter of Credit Unions. Ardella Vance volunteers her time, talents, and financial resources to causes she is passionate about. She is a gifted educator and a Master Guide in the International Pathfinder Club a global organization empowered to teach life and leadership skills to young people. The Vances have been married over four decades and share their lives with four adult children and ten exceptional grandchildren. They currently reside in Huntsville, Alabama and blog from their spritual guide “Stewardship of Wealth”.
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