Stewardship series #4

   4 ) Why are we here?

The rules for our existence here on earth are really fairly simple, not easy, but simple.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)

The most powerful affirmation by Jesus for rule number two, to love thy neighbor, comes to us from John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you; Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples,  if you love one another."

The next part of the instructions are included in Romans 2:6 "God will give to each person according to what he has done." Proverbs 22:9  says "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." or  in Luke 3:11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." And from Jesus in Luke 8:21 "My mother and my brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."   We are called to actively love God and love each other. We are to share our food, give our clothes, bear each others burdens, generously give, and put our love into practice.  My dictionary says that  'love' is a noun.  I think that God's love is meant to be a verb.

CAN I love my neighbor as much as Jesus loved me?  I don't know.  But I know I'm supposed to keep trying.  And I know I'm supposed to Do it, not just feel it.

    Christian Stewardship Is:  Proper care of God's resources so that we can best demonstrate love for our neighbors, as Jesus demonstrated his love for us.

    Other related scripture: Romans 13:9-10 ,  Galatians 5:14  ,  Luke 7:47 and 10:27 , 1 Peter 4:8-11

            Matthew 22:37-40 and  25:34-46 ,  2 John 1:4-6