Aligning Stewardship with God's Covenant Purpose
Summary
In our journey of faith, it's crucial to understand that the core purpose of our stewardship is to advance the covenant of God's kingdom. A covenant is not just a contract; it's a divinely created relational bond designed to fulfill God's purpose in the world. When we take what God has entrusted to us—our time, talents, and treasures—and fail to relate to them covenantally, we miss the divine purpose for our lives. This misalignment often leads to a void filled with emptiness or distractions. We chase after these distractions because we've lost sight of our true purpose. Instead of using our blessings to fulfill God's purpose, we often reverse the order, seeking blessings to fulfill our own desires.
The essence of our existence is not to live for ourselves but to align with God's covenantal purpose. When we live solely for ourselves—me, myself, and I—we are on a path that Solomon describes as vanity. This path is detached from the divine attachment God desires with us. Our lives should not be wasted on fulfilling personal ambitions independent of God's purpose. His purpose is always in relation to Him, aimed at advancing His kingdom through the covenant He has established with us. Embracing this covenantal relationship ensures that our lives are not lived in vain but are part of a greater divine narrative.
Key Takeaways:
- Covenantal Stewardship: Our stewardship of time, talents, and treasures should be viewed through the lens of God's covenant. This divine relational bond is designed to advance His purpose in the world. When we align our resources with His covenant, we find fulfillment and purpose. [00:15]
- Avoiding Distractions: Distractions often fill the void left by a lack of purpose. When we lose sight of God's purpose, we become susceptible to distractions that lead us away from His plan. By refocusing on His covenant, we can avoid these pitfalls and live purposefully. [00:56]
- Blessings and Purpose: Many seek God's blessings to fulfill personal desires, but true fulfillment comes when we use His blessings to advance His purpose. This shift in perspective allows us to enjoy the process and find joy in serving His kingdom. [01:13]
- Living Beyond Vanity: A life lived solely for personal gain is described as vanity by Solomon. True meaning is found in living for God's purpose, which is inherently relational and covenantal. This alignment with His purpose brings depth and significance to our lives. [01:53]
- Divine Attachment: God's covenant is His attachment to us, guiding us to fulfill the reason for our existence. By embracing this divine relationship, we ensure that our lives are not wasted but are part of His grand design to advance His kingdom. [02:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Understanding Covenant
- [00:37] - Purpose and Emptiness
- [00:56] - The Role of Distractions
- [01:13] - Blessings and God's Purpose
- [01:33] - Living for Self vs. God
- [01:53] - Vanity and Divine Purpose
- [02:11] - Embracing Divine Attachment
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 1:2 - "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
3. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 - "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the primary purpose of our stewardship of time, talents, and treasures? [00:15]
2. According to the sermon, what happens when we fail to relate to our resources covenantally? [00:37]
3. How does the sermon describe the consequences of living solely for personal gain? [01:53]
4. What is the relationship between God's covenant and our purpose, as explained in the sermon? [02:11]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of a covenant differ from a contract, and why is this distinction important for understanding our relationship with God? [00:15]
2. In what ways might distractions manifest in our lives when we lose sight of God's purpose? [00:56]
3. How does the sermon interpret Solomon's view of vanity in relation to living for personal ambitions? [01:53]
4. What does it mean to embrace a divine attachment, and how does this influence our daily lives? [02:11]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current use of time, talents, and treasures. Are there areas where you might be prioritizing personal desires over God's covenantal purpose? How can you realign these areas? [00:15]
2. Identify a distraction in your life that might be pulling you away from God's purpose. What steps can you take this week to minimize its impact? [00:56]
3. Consider a recent decision or action. Was it driven by personal ambition or a desire to advance God's kingdom? How might you approach similar situations differently in the future? [01:53]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's covenant in your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to strengthen this divine relationship? [02:11]
5. Think of a time when you felt empty or unfulfilled. How might aligning with God's purpose have changed that experience? What can you do to ensure your life is not lived in vain? [01:53]
6. How can you use your blessings to serve others and advance God's kingdom this week? Identify one specific action you can take. [01:13]
7. What does seeking first the kingdom of God look like in your everyday life? How can you prioritize this in your daily decisions and interactions? [01:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Covenant as a Relational Bond
Our stewardship of time, talents, and treasures should be viewed through the lens of God's covenant. This divine relational bond is designed to advance His purpose in the world. When we align our resources with His covenant, we find fulfillment and purpose. The covenant is not merely a contract but a sacred relationship that calls us to participate in God's work on earth. By understanding and embracing this covenantal stewardship, we align our lives with God's greater narrative, ensuring that our efforts contribute to His kingdom. [00:15]
"For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them." (Deuteronomy 4:31, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally use your time, talents, and treasures today to align with God's covenantal purpose?
Day 2: Distractions and Divine Focus
Distractions often fill the void left by a lack of purpose. When we lose sight of God's purpose, we become susceptible to distractions that lead us away from His plan. By refocusing on His covenant, we can avoid these pitfalls and live purposefully. Distractions can be subtle, drawing us away from the path God has set for us. It is crucial to identify these distractions and redirect our focus towards God's covenantal purpose, ensuring that our lives are not wasted on fleeting pursuits. [00:56]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions are currently pulling you away from God's purpose, and how can you refocus your attention on His covenant today?
Day 3: Blessings Aligned with Purpose
Many seek God's blessings to fulfill personal desires, but true fulfillment comes when we use His blessings to advance His purpose. This shift in perspective allows us to enjoy the process and find joy in serving His kingdom. When we view blessings as tools for God's work rather than ends in themselves, we experience a deeper sense of joy and satisfaction. This perspective shift transforms our understanding of blessings, encouraging us to use them in ways that honor God and further His kingdom. [01:13]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you use a specific blessing in your life today to serve God's purpose rather than your own desires?
Day 4: Living Beyond Vanity
A life lived solely for personal gain is described as vanity by Solomon. True meaning is found in living for God's purpose, which is inherently relational and covenantal. This alignment with His purpose brings depth and significance to our lives. When we pursue personal ambitions detached from God's plan, we find ourselves on a path of emptiness. Embracing God's purpose infuses our lives with meaning, ensuring that our efforts contribute to a greater divine narrative. [01:53]
"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways are you currently pursuing personal ambitions that may be detached from God's purpose, and how can you realign them today?
Day 5: Embracing Divine Attachment
God's covenant is His attachment to us, guiding us to fulfill the reason for our existence. By embracing this divine relationship, we ensure that our lives are not wasted but are part of His grand design to advance His kingdom. This divine attachment is a source of strength and direction, reminding us of our place in God's plan. By nurturing this relationship, we find purpose and fulfillment, knowing that our lives contribute to His eternal kingdom. [02:11]
"And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you." (Genesis 17:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God today to ensure that your life aligns with His divine purpose?
Quotes
God makes it clear that the driving purpose for our stewardship life is to advance the covenant of his kingdom. Remember a covenant is a divinely created relational bond specifically designed to advance God's purpose in the world. When we take what God has entrusted to us and we do not relate to it covenantally, that is in this intimate relationship for his purpose that he is doing in our lives with our lives and for our lives to advance what he is doing in the world, then we missed our purpose. [00:00:00]
When you miss your purpose, all that fills that void is emptiness or distraction. One of the reasons we go after distractions in our lives is because we've lost sight of our purpose and we take our time and our talents and particularly our treasures and we reverse the reason why we have them. [00:00:49]
People are very interested in being blessed by God so that God can give me what I need to fulfill my purpose rather than give me what he has for me so I can fulfill his purpose and enjoy the process along the way. When you miss that, when his covenant, when this arrangement of relationship with him and what he is seeking to do in history is lost and we only live for three people—me, myself, and I—then we are driving toward what Solomon calls a life of vanity. [00:01:10]
It has been detached from the attachment that God wants to have. That's a covenant. That's his attachment in us fulfilling the reason why we are living. Don't waste your life and I don't want to waste my life on fulfilling our purposes independent of his purpose. His purpose is always in relationship to him to advance his kingdom and what he calls his covenant. [00:01:49]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?