The Stewardship Mindset | Nehemiah 7:3-4

And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt. — Nehemiah 7:3-4 CALL OUT: Thanks to Mike Hedstrom, a faithful listener from Afton, MN, who leads Driven Driver Transportation. Thanks for your friendship and support. By the time we reach chapter seven of this book, Jerusalem's temple and wall construction have been successfully completed. Yet, a critical issue surfaces in this verse – the majority of homes within the city still lie in disrepair. It's a situation that might remind us of the challenges some of our major cities face today. Like Jerusalem, these cities have seen tough times, with a lack of security leading to looting and widespread damage. This, in turn, has made these places unsafe and unattractive for residents. But here's where Nehemiah steps in. As a leader who takes responsibility seriously, he doesn't let this situation continue unaddressed. Instead, he shifts his leadership focus towards stewarding what has already been achieved. Stewardship is an innate calling for a leader committed to God's ways. You see, God entrusts leaders with various resources to manage faithfully. In Nehemiah's case, it was his time, talents, and treasures invested in constructing that wall around Jerusalem. Throughout this experience, Nehemiah remained acutely aware of his role as a steward of these three precious assets. What sets Nehemiah apart is that even after the wall was completed, he didn't simply stop thinking about stewardship. No, he recognized that it was time to shift his approach to stewardship. He understood that his duty was to empower others to carry on the stewardship of these God-given resources. Nehemiah was passing the torch of stewardship to others, urging them to preserve the sacred things of God just as diligently as he had done. This level of leadership and stewardship demands a unique perspective that might seem counterintuitive. It necessitates recognizing that everything we possess is entrusted to us to manage; nothing is truly owned. It's an understanding that our role is that of stewards, not owners, regarding our time, talents, and treasures. Once this perspective takes root in every aspect of our lives, we won't treat anything like a rental car. You know what I mean? How might you drive a rented car a little harder, keep it less clean, and put in the cheapest fuel because it doesn't belong to you? Well, with a stewardship mindset, we shift our approach to everything. We acknowledge that God is the only owner, and we are merely caretakers of everything he gives us, including our time, talents, and treasures. Therefore, we are far more careful how we pass them on. I assess how I steward my time, talents, and treasures regularly. So do that today. And if you do, I promise you will lead at a whole new level, and people will see it in you and through you. #Nehemiah, #time, #talent, #treasure, #stewarship, #leadership, #steward ASK THIS: In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to adopt a stewardship mindset, recognizing that everything you have is entrusted to you by God? How might shifting your perspective to stewardship positively impact those areas? Nehemiah passed the torch of stewardship to others, urging them to preserve what had been achieved with the wall's construction. Who are you currently mentoring or guiding in your life, and how can you empower them to become better stewards of their time, talents, and treasures? What steps can you take to pass on the principles of stewardship to the next generation? DO THIS: Assess and think steward, not an owner. PRAY THIS: Father, help me embrace the stewardship mindset, recognizing that all I have is entrusted to me by You. Guide me in passing on the principles of stewardship to others so that they, too, may honor You with their time, talents, and treasures. Amen. PLAY THIS: Rejoice. Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller