Five steps you can take for better stewardship of your life …

Before the impact of a global pandemic rocked the world, a lot of people complained about things like “routine” and “structure,” even though both can be very beneficial — even “healthy” — for us.

Now that we’ve faced months of self-quarantine at home and have lost much of the routine and structure that existed before, a lot of us are second-guessing any disdain we had about those routines and structures!

“Oh, if things were only like they used to be!” we think.

That’s because one of the most uncomfortable aspects of having a pandemic thrust upon is being forced to be better stewards of how we live.

Instead of just flowing along with routines and being supported by structures, we’re having to make more choices about our daily living. If truth be told, a lot of us are seeing we often don’t make good choices — or, at least, we often don’t want to choose what we know is best for us …

Exercise or another Netflix marathon?

Indulge in junk food or go shopping and cook a nutritious meal?

Stay up late, sleep in, and stay in pjs all day, or get up, shower, put on clean clothes, have a productive day, and get some exercise?

I have written previously about ways to make wise choices (click here and here for a couple previous posts), but it might be helpful for a quick primer on some steps we can take to make sure we’re being good stewards of the life God has given us, no matter what our circumstances are:

1. Pray before planning or making decisions. If you want to live a Christian life that makes God the very center of all your choices and actions, then you have to start with God before you plan anything or jump to actions. Converse with God about the choices before you and “listen” for His direction in the pages of scripture. If you want your life to honor God, then you have to start with God rather than making him an after-thought long after you’ve made your choices.

2. Make sure both thoughts and emotions are more than just “informed” by scripture, but are shaped by them. Let’s be honest, the reason why so many who profess to follow Christ don’t first turn to the Bible for direction is because we already know what WE want and we’re intent to pursue that. Scripture was given to us by God to be more than “good advice,” it’s there to shape our lives, especially our planning and decision-making.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

We so often hear that Christians should be “informed” by the Bible, but the fact is our planning and choices should be formed from the influence of scripture, not just informed by them.

3. Commit that all motives will be God-glorifying and love-based. This is a tough one! That’s because we’re naturally selfish and really want to benefit ourselves over anyone or anything else. But that is no longer the case for the authentic Christian. As followers of Christ, we choose to die to self (Luke 9:23) and embrace as motives for what we do to be bringing glory to God and be based in love. If your plans and choices aren’t God-honoring and don’t have love as a core motive, then change them!

4. Rely on the empowering of the Holy Spirit. So many of our choices are made based on what we think we, on our own power, can do. Christians need to learn to allow the Holy Spirit to change our thinking so we can make better choices in stewarding our lives.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace,” Romans 8:5-6.

5. Activate the self-discipline God has already supplied you with. You really aren’t utterly powerless when it comes to making wise choices and being a good steward. Look at how God has equipped you already:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline,” 2 Timothy 1:7.

Being forced to make many new choices in stewarding your life in the realities of a global pandemic really begs for you to put to use the self-discipline God has already supplied you with. Use it for your good and His glory!

Time may be difficult, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make wise choices or live well, regardless of your circumstances. The real question is, will you?

Scotty