HOW NOT TO KILL YOURSELF

I followed my pastor to a church for a Stewards’ Vigil at another church some years ago. My Pastor preached like fire. Till now some of the statements he made still ring out loud in my head:

“God is not in the business of maintenance. He keeps making things better. If you cannot make it better. Quit”. He was challenging us to better kingdom stewardship. 

“You do not know how much of a sinner you can be until you have money. You need money to finance adultery. Money will easily help you hide a sinful life”. He was challenging us to a life of purity and faithfulness. 

“There is no happy husband of a sad wife. There is no happy wife of a sad husband”. He was challenging us on marital stewardship. 

But as we got into the vehicle that night to go home. My Pastor began to laugh in the car. We all wondered why he was laughing. He said, “They all look at me look like a superstar but I did not even touch their topic”. 

He then added, “I tried all I could to follow their topic. I even had a book on it but it did not open up. I followed what the Lord has graced me with”. 

Friend, the reason why you are frustrated is that you are struggling to fight giants in the armour of Saul while you disregard the sling and stone you have been graced with. 

One of the most effective assassins of joy is trying all you can to please others without regard to the will of God, the grace of God and the gifts of God in your life. 

Any minister of the gospel will know this: There are times you will struggle hard with a topic for hours. You have plenty of notes but you do not have a message. You have to put aside your note and ask for the hand of God upon you. 

There is nothing you are given to steward that you cannot access through an area that the Lord has graced you with. Your sling and stone will find a spot on the forehead of Goliath. 

When next pressure is rising, calm down. Take a walk along the streams of meditation. Pick up your smooth stones. Carry your shepherd’s pouch. Remember that the Lord who was with you has not abandoned you. Stop looking for a formula. Look for the grip of His hand on your Spirit and steward the gift He has blessed you with in confidence. 

Some can sing it but you can write it. Do not try to sing it. Some can teach it but you can prophesy it. Do not try to teach it. Some can lead it while you can identify those who can lead it. Do not try to lead it. Use that gift of identifying leaders well. 

Do you know what Paul said: 

You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. 2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT 

Do it with sincerity. Do it with the authority of Christ. Do not become a spiritual hustler! Do you get it?