Have you ever thought, “I don’t have much to offer. What could God possibly do with what I have to give?” We can talk ourselves out of stewarding the resources we have because we don’t think what we are able to offer matters. Well, it matters to God. God’s power isn’t dependent on us. It never has been, and it never will be. Whether God has given you a lot or a little, His desire is for you to trust Him and steward it well. None of what we have is really ours anyway, so why not commit whatever you have to the Lord, trust Him, and then watch Him use it in ways you could never even imagine?
STEWARDSHIP: Honoring God with everything He has given you.
MEMORY VERSE: “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5 (NLT)
This Week’s Finish Line: To Honor God We Steward Our Treasures
Wherever Jesus was preaching in Galilee, huge crowds followed Him because they had seen all of the amazing things He had done. On one occasion, Jesus saw the need a crowd had for food and asked His disciples what they thought they could do to help. It looked like an impossible task, but Andrew found a young boy whose lunch consisted of two fish and five small loaves of bread who was willing to share. The amount of food the boy had wasn’t important. Jesus can do incredible, miraculous things whether we have a lot to steward or just a little. With the boy’s small lunch, Jesus fed a crowd of probably 10,000 people! What’s most important is that we are willing to steward whatever treasures God has given us for His glory.
Family Questions:
- Read John 6:1-13. What “treasure” did the boy bring to Jesus? Did the boy himself have enough to feed all the people? What did Jesus do with the boy’s small gift?
- Does God’s power depend on the amount of treasure you have? Why or why not?
- What kinds of “treasures” has God given you? Talk about a time you have stewarded your treasures well. What happened?
- How did the boy bring honor to God by stewarding his treasure well?
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Meal Time
Invite some friends or neighbors over for a meal that includes some of your favorite foods. Coach your kids ahead of time on how to be a good host to your guests and put on their servant hat! Later, when your guests go home, gather your family together for a little debrief. Ask your kid(s) how they felt about time with your guests. What was really fun? What, if anything, was hard about it? Ask them to think about the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish in John 6. What do you think was hard about giving away his lunch? How do you think he felt after seeing what Jesus did with it? Remind them that the “treasures” you have as a family don’t belong to you. They belong to God who asks us to be a steward of them to honor Him. Brainstorm other treasures your family has and how can you use those things to honor God.
Friend: Drive Time
While driving with your family ask them what their favorite “treasure” is. Ask them if they can think of a way to steward that treasure for God’s glory. Explain that stewarding a treasure well does not necessarily mean you have to give it away, but simply think of a way you can use it or share it. Think of how doing so could serve, bless, or help others, which is glorifying to God!
Counselor: Bedtime
As you are putting your kids to bed, take a moment to tell them that they are a treasure God has given you to steward. Tell them you are thankful for the treasure they are and commit to them that you will steward your influence on them as their parents for God’s glory. Pray with them and ask God to help you be intentional in your relationship with your family.
Coach: Anytime
Sometime this week, help define what we mean by “treasures.” Start by asking your family what they think of when they hear the word "treasure". They will probably have lots of thoughts like pirate chests, money, jewels or toys. Explain that our treasures are all the earthly possessions God has given us. Help them think through earthly possessions they have (toys, food, clothes, house, etc.) Explain that the ability to steward our possessions for God’s glory will come from an understanding that everything is really God’s and a gift from Him to us.
Prayer
Thank God for whatever treasures He has entrusted to you. Thank Him for how He is able to use whatever you have for His glory. Ask Him to help you be a better steward of all He has entrusted you with.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will continue learning about STEWARDSHIP!