Stewarding Our Time & Relationships – Pastor Luke Faw
Where is God inviting you to reprioritize your relationships?
I am indebted to the insights of Craig Groeschel and his book “Chazown” on this topic. (“Chazown” means vision.)
Time is money!
Time is money!
Can be true… but what’s of more value? Time is relationships!
- People are eternal so they are of more value than money.
- We were created to live in relationship w/ God and other people
Psalm 90:9b-12 (NKJV)
We finish our years like a sigh.
10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off, and we fly away….
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
GOALS OF REOLATIONSHIPS: The Practice of and Incorporation into Christian Community
Wise stewardship does not happen without intentionality!
My wife and I are intentional about investing time in relationships. We “budget “the time we can invest in relationships between believers and non-believers:
· Between people we feel we need to invest in and between people we need to invest in us;
· Between relationships within the church and outside the church,
· Between relationships within our culture and outside our culture
· We guard against too much time in relationships that are draining and make sure to spend time with people we can rest with;
· We are intentional about having relationships with folks younger than we are and older then we are.
Don’t be overwhelmed by this list: It’s a marathon!
“Intentionally chosen relationships are critical for your fulfilment of God’s chazown (vision) for your life.” - Groeschel
Evaluate your relationships:
1. What relationship needs to be started?
- Who is missing in your relationships for you?
- God wants us to do life together- in Christian community.
This does not happen by accident! We must intentionally initiate relationships to help build our lives and the lives of others! (Pull people in to help w/ your marriage, w/ your finances and to pour into your kids!)
Craig Groeschel: “He has people prepared to mentor you, sharpen you, love you, and lead you toward His chazown (vision) for your live.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NKJV) – Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Great relationships don’t happen by accident. When we depend on God’s people, we’re depending on Him, because people are one of His key tools for working in our lives.
Hebrews10:24-25a (MSG) – Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on,
Evaluate your relationships:
2. What relationships need to be nurtured?
- Every relationship ends up somewhere, but few relationships end up somewhere on purpose.
Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV) – 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21 submitting to one another in the fear of God …
“Redeeming here mean to buy back. There is an ever present tendency to let time slip away without giving attention to God’s purpose…. We redeem the time so that these cares will not crowd us out of God’s plan.” David Seemuth
Evaluate your relationships:
3. What relationships need to be restored?
- Strained friendship
- Bitterness
Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Have you done everything within your power to seek restoration?
- Romans12:18 (NIV) – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Evaluate your relationships:
4. What relationships need to be redefined?
- 1 Corinthians15:33 (NIV) – Do not be misled: “bad company corrupts good character.”
- Wrong, destructive, and unhealthy relationships that need to be severed. Or at least redefined.
- If you’re in a relationship that is hurting your relationship with God, either redefine it or lovingly and tactfully break it off until the person has genuinely changed.
- Watch out for people who are a source of temptation to you.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV) – 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV) – Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) – “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
“Make Jesus the common denominator to all your relationships.” – Gerald Broome
Evaluate your relationships:
1. What relationships need to be started?
2. What relationships need to be nurtured?
3. What relationships need to be restored?
4. What relationships need to be redefined?
Questions for discussion/reflection:
1. Share your response to the relationship categories. Does it seem overwhelming? Which categories are empty in your life? Can you think of any categories that are important to you and/or your family that are not on this list?
2. Where is God leading you to start a new relationship? (What area? Pick ONE at a time!) What step can you take this week toward this goal?
3. What relationships do you feel God is leading you to strengthen? What simple can you take this week?
4. What broken connection is God leading you to try to mend? What step can you take this week?
5. What relationship is pulling you down spiritually and needs to be redefined with boundaries to protect your spiritual vibrancy? Describe the new boundaries and how you will communicate them.
