Stewardship Cheerfulness

Stewardship Cheerfulness
Woodstream Church
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Romans 12:6-8

Many are familiar with the HGTV series “Fixer Upper” featuring the humor and love of Chip and Joanna Gaines.  They help couples seeking to buy a home, typically offering some in need of renovation.  There is intrigue, hard work and difficulties, but the Gaines’ winsome demeanor often overshadows their gifts for renovation and design.  They are master craftsmen emulating the Master Jesus, who is the ‘fixer-upper’ of souls.  We are called as Christ followers to build up one another in faith with the spiritual gifts He has given each of us.  All of the gifts are spiritual, but some tools are people-sensitive.  We are not only called to manage resources, but also relationships.  The key is not just our spiritual gifts, but also our temperament.

Grace Gifts Must Be Carried Out With Graciousness.  Sometimes the greatest gift we can give to others is our attitude, one of cheer and graciousness.  One of the most gifted stewards in scripture was Joseph.  His abilities to manage the estate of his father Jacob was the source of intense hostility from his brothers.  He was sold as a slave and imprisoned for Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation.  He had not yet mastered the stewardship of relationships.  For us the question identifying our attitude is whether it is a pleasure or pain to serve.

Spiritual Gifts Are Tools to Carry Out the Virtues of the Holy Spirit.  Spiritual gifts help exercise the virtues of love, kindness, cheerfulness, meekness, goodness, faith, gentleness and temperance.  The Fruit of the Spirit brings the proper character to the exercise of spiritual gifts.  Our promise and prayer to God should be that we exercise our spiritual gifts with cheerfulness to help build the Church, the body of Christ.