Self-Stewardship

by Tom Jones

"I wish I had the faith to go somewhere and start a church."

I have heard this comment several times from well-meaning people. The same thought goes through my mind each time. They are complimenting our faith, but they do not see the whole picture. The truth is that while faith is certainly involved in planting a church, it is only part of it. The primary issue is obedience.

Pam and I answered the call to be home missionaries many years ago when we were very young. We were introduced to church planting through the work of Roy Thomas, Trymon Messer, and John Gibbs, back when these men traveled for the Home Missions Department. When they held camp meetings, Pam and I would stand and stare at the map they had, appalled at the lack of churches in the mid-Atlantic and New England states. We knew then we were ready to go when the Lord gave us an indication that it was His timing.

My point is this, Pam and I didn’t realize we had an option. We believed the Lord spoke, and His people responded. We didn’t know Christians could tell God no! Perhaps I’m being a bit facetious, but we all know when God speaks we should be obedient. However, mankind has a long record of saying no to God.

Sometimes, it is easier to write a check or commit to pray for missionaries when we know God is asking more of us. Finances and prayer are a huge part of mission work, and both certainly fall under the heading of stewardship. However, self-stewardship—giving one’s self completely to the will of God—is a critical need today. What do we do when God tells us to go?

Consider several examples from Scripture of people who were obedient to God’s leading. One who comes immediately to mind is Abraham in Genesis 12. God didn’t even let Abraham know where he was going, yet obedience prompted him to pack his belongings and start on a journey that would have a profound impact on his life…and history. God had a plan that involved Abraham, and self-stewardship got him moving.

Consider Moses in Exodus 3. Those familiar with his story know he was reluctant to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt. He tried to get out of it, but he eventually obeyed, fulfilling God’s plan and facing down Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler in the world.

Gideon shows what can happen when an ordinary person chooses to be obedient. God wanted to free His people from the Midianites, and He chose Gideon to be the leader of the resistance. After some assurance from God, the reluctant Gideon allowed God to use him to carry out His plan.

Jonah provides a prime example of how difficult life can get when we choose to tell God no. When we ignore or directly disobey God’s will, we will soon find something missing, and sometimes the path will become very difficult. This often leads to disenchantment, delusion, and discouragement.

What do we learn from these biblical examples? What does their obedience teach us? Self-stewardship—total surrender of our lives to God’s call—should be the goal of every believer. God’s plan must be carried out, and we should be willing to do our part. Sometimes, that involves leaving our comfort zone and putting everything—children, grandchildren, careers—in His hands and leaving it there. As John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease!”

Will you obey God’s call today?

About the Writer: Veteran missionaries Tom Jones and his wife Pamela are planting a church in Greensburg, PA. Learn more at www.keystonefwb.org.