Month: July 2018

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Owners and Stewards

Owners and Stewards

Owners and Stewards

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV).

Stewardship at most churches is an awkward topic because most of us look at it as a means to give up “our” money.  We all have worked hard for our money and naturally want to protect it, which is in fact good stewardship.  According to a recent article in Church Leaders, Christians are now giving at 2.5% of their income but gave 3.3% during the Great Depression.   Both of these numbers are sad and do not reflect the Biblical instruction from Malachi 3:10 “bring the full tithe into the storehouse.”  However, isn’t it human nature during times of great stress to either grow closer to God or further away?  Clearly, God wants us to grow closer but not all of us do.  God has already given us victory in times of adversity.  His promise to Moses was passed on to Joshua.  Similarly, His promises as detailed in scripture are still as relevant today as they were in the beginning of time.  “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

So, what does this have to do with stewardship?  First, we must understand what is a steward and what is an owner.   Owners have rights, but stewards have responsibility.  We are stewards with all of our belongings, even our money and children.  James 1:17 beautifully expounds upon this idea.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).  So, it is clear we are stewards for God, and all that we have and see belongs to Him.  “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. (Leviticus 27: 30, 32)

A steward lives for the day he will return the Master’s goods to Him.  A good example is The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25.  The third servant was given one talent (bag of gold) and the other two were given more.  The other two wisely invested their master’s money and returned the original money to the master along with the interest which greatly pleased the master.  The third servant greatly displeased the master because he had hidden the money in a hole and only had the original amount to return to the master.

Is there a lesson for us from the third servant? Perhaps we should see that our view of God will determine the choices we make. Do we see Christ as “a hard man” with unfair expectations of us? (Matthew 25: 24).  If so, it will lead us to live in fear.  It is important to note that the money that was given to the servants was not their own.  Also, the interest they earned with the capital was not theirs to keep. The servants were only stewards of the master’s investment, and it is the quality of their stewardship that the master sought to measure.

Isn’t it interesting that the ancient word for the weight of gold was “talent.”  Today, we consider a talent to be our skills and abilities.  We all have unique talents.   We should maximize the use of our talents (money, skills, time, witness, etc.) not for our own selfish purposes, but to honor God. The Parable of the Talents is not about salvation or works righteousness, but about how we use our work to fulfill our earthly callings.  The unfaithful steward in this parable didn’t waste the master’s money but rather he wasted an opportunity.  As a result, he was judged wicked and lazy.  We are responsible for what we do for God with what we have been given, and one day we will all be looking for the narrow gate and pass on the right side with the sheep.

Prayer:  Dear God, Help us to realize that everything that we have, including our financial resources, is a gift from You. May we be good stewards of all that we have. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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  • Self-Control: “Fools Lose Their Temper; Wise Men Hold It Back”



    Self-Control: “Fools Lose Their Temper; Wise Men Hold It Back”
    The Bible teaches us that self-control is essential to living a Christian life. We must exercise our self-control or we become controlled by our weakness. Our weakness may be food, alcohol, drugs or pornography. The enemy knows our weakness better than we do ourselves and will encourage us to go to it rather than God in times of need. Our lives can soon be dominated by our weakness and we are living completely in the flesh rather than in the Spirit. Self-control is the very essence of “dying to self” and living…
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  • Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ To Maintain Hope


    Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ To Maintain Hope
    Put On The ‘Full Armor Of God’ For Hope
    “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”  (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).
    We all experience times in our lives in which we feel hopeless. For some, these periods linger into years and years. Given these circumstances, I would like to equip readers with some thoughts on how to maintain hope when all hope appears to be gone. In this article, you’ll find some thoughts on the importance of hope in your life. For your consideration, Job was a strong disciple of God, but had…
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  • Evil Is Happening in Our Churches!


    Evil Is Happening in Our Churches!
    Evil Is Happening in Our Churches!
    “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good  (Romans 12:9 NIV).
    I am angry about the continued shootings at our churches. Our churches are God’s house on earth.  Psalm 46:1 teaches us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).   I think we can substitute “church” for “God” in the scripture.  As Christians we seek out His refuge and strength, particularly on Sunday mornings as we gather with the Body of Christ.   This is a special, holy, sacred time.  It should also be a safe time.
    I…
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Carve Out Space For Quiet Time To Ask God And Await An Answer

Carve Out Space For Quiet Time To Ask God And Await An Answer

Carve Out Space For Quiet Time To Ask God And Await An Answer

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NIV).

If you are like me, you enjoy a quiet and peaceful evening to rest and renew yourself. Noise fills our days from the time the alarm clock goes off to the evening commute home. There is something special about the quiet that appeals to many of us. Below are five benefits to setting aside some quiet time each day.

1) Peace:  There is a peace that comes upon us when we embrace the quiet and stop with our typical busy work. Palm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” God is encouraging us to be still and take comfort in the fact that He is our God and I am eternally grateful for His peace.

2) Discernment: How can you expect to hear the whisper of God when there is so much background noise? One of the most important — but most difficult tasks for us as Christians — is to continually discern the will of God for us in our lives. Discernment is accomplished through many means: worship, scripture, and fellowship with fellow Christians. However, discernment is also accomplished by quietly meditating and waiting for the Lord to speak to you. Recall the message about waiting from Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.”

3) Retreat and Pray:  Jesus frequently withdrew from people to be alone with the Father and pray. Jesus’ solitude is a major component in the Gospels.  Jesus showed us the importance of being alone with God to pray and to listen.

4) Mental Focus:  Quiet time helps recharge your emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. If we can use the quiet time to “silence” our minds, it allows us to be able to listen and wait for God to move in response to a prayer or question.

5) Connect to Nature:  “I believe that God is most evident in nature. The landscapes throughout the world are His canvas and His work is beautiful. It is always special for me to retreat to nature and connect to God.  Jesus did not find an empty house to pray in.  He retreated to be in nature among God’s creation to pray to the Father.

Prayer:  Dear God, I pray that all reading this article find quiet time each day for self-renewal, prayer, and listen to God. Do not grow discouraged if you do not immediately hear from God. Be patient and remember Isaiah 40:31-1, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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  • My Dream That Carried A Message From God



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  • Setting Goals For 2019



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  • Recipe for Joy



    Recipe for Joy
    “I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-19 NLT).
    I love to cook.  As any chef will tell you, the key to a good dish is the proper ingredients.   Sometimes if I cook something good, I wonder what can I add to make it great?  God is known by many names but is seldom referred to as the “master chef.”  However, He provides all the ingredients we need to regain our joy.
    Sometimes in life, things are simply falling…
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Open My Eyes

Open My Eyes

Open My Eyes

“When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32 NIV).

The title of this blog makes me recall the two men walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus.  After walking and talking with Him all day, they did not know they were with the Risen Christ.   It was not until He had joined them for dinner at the end of the day that their eyes were opened.  “When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight” (Luke 24:30-32).    I wonder how many times has Christ walked with me and I have failed to see Him?  It is easy for me to look back and give thanks and acknowledge His help but my eyes are often not on Him during a storm.  I realize that wherever I go and whatever I do, Christ is with me.  His presence is in my heart and that is a covenant from Holy Scripture.  “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

How about the woman at the well?  She spoke with Jesus at length, but she failed to recognize Him.  He told her many things about herself so she assumed he must be a prophet.  Her final words to Him are significant to me.  In John 4:25 we learn, “The woman said, ‘I know that the Messiah” (called Christ) is coming.  When He comes, He will explain everything to us.'”  I have often read this Scripture and thought – how can this woman not realize that she is speaking to Jesus?  I now realize how many times have I sat through a sermon and left and not realized that Christ was speaking to me?  Or how many times have I denied assistance to a beggar, the homeless, or the “least” of society and violated His instructions in Matthew 25:40?  We are proud to realize that Christ is in us and we are in Him.  We may even realize that He walks with us.  However, it is also important to realize that Christ is in all of us.  I pray that He opens my eyes to His presence in myself and others, and I treat everybody with the respect and kindness befitting that of a King.  Be blessed and open your eyes to the love, beauty, and grace of God that is in and around you.

Prayer:  Dear God, We know that you also walk with us today just as you did on the road to Emmaus. Send your Holy Spirit to open our eyes and explain the Scriptures as we read them. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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  • The Biblical Roots Of Trust



    The Biblical Roots Of Trust
    Trust is an essential component to any relationship. Trust is essential for a relationship to move past a superficial level to a more intimate and personal basis. Our relationship with God is based on our trust that first, He lived and died for our sins and second, He has our best interests at heart and loves us unconditionally.The actual phrase “Jesus loves me,” cannot be found in the Bible but there are examples that support this fact. In John 13:34 Jesus said, “As I have loved you, you must love one another” and in John 15:9 He said, “As the Father has…
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  • Christian Leadership at Home


    Christian Leadership at Home
    Christian Leadership at Home
    “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25 NIV).
    Men have been appointed by God as the head of the home. I understand that many women find this troubling and the Bible is full of stories of courageous women that have served the body of Christ. The truth is that many men have done a terrible job of leading their house in any capacity, particularly spiritually. Many men are not even physically present in the home or if so, they do not recognize Jesus as their Lord and…
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  • Happy Memories from Bad Experiences


    Happy Memories from Bad Experiences
    Happy Memories from Bad Experiences
    “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God”  (Philippians 1:3 NLT).
    I love the encouragement found in the book of Philippians.  One of the reasons Paul wrote this book was to thank the church at Philippi for their help.  He writes, “I thank God for the help you gave me” (Philippians 1:5).  He also wrote, “no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only” (Philippians 4:15); “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again” (Philippians 4:16).    The generosity of the Philippians to Paul compelled him…
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The Battle for Purity

The Battle for Purity
The Battle for Purity

The Battle for Purity

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 ESV).

According to recent statistics, there are over 24.5 million web sites dedicated to pornography.  A report by Bridges and Wosnitzer in 2007 found that there are 13,000 porn videos produced annually with revenue of $13 billion.   In the same year, 507 movies from Hollywood produced $8.8 billion.  Another report found that over 25% of all internet searches are for pornographic material.  I am certain that what was true in 2007 has not gotten any better today.  Marketing advertisers have long used sex and scantily clad women to sell everything from alcohol to weight loss pills.   Now, with the advancement of the internet, download speeds, and a decline in moral virtue, pornographic material is highly accessible and in demand.

So, how do we resist this temptation?  First, is to acknowledge that you cannot do it by yourself.  However, you “can do all things through Christ who gives you strength”  (Philippians 4:13).  Recognize porn for what it is – a favorite weapon of the enemy.  Now, recall how Satan tempted Jesus after 40 days of fasting and Jesus defeated him by using Holy Scripture.  The power of the Word is great and can be used for many things, including “rebuking” (2 Timothy 3:16).  So, rebuke impure thoughts in the name of Jesus.  Each thought is the seed for potential action.  This is why we are instructed to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  If the thought is not taken captive, you have yielded a portion of your heart to the enemy and the thought will lead to action that does not honor God. 

The heart is essential to our spiritual health.  This is why we are encouraged in Proverbs 4:23 to guard it, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Matthew 5:28 expands upon the concept of the heart.  “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  I remember years ago when President Carter quoted this scripture and admitted having lust in his heart. 

The battle for sexual purity is fought in your heart. All actions, good or bad, begin with thoughts.  The thought may have taken root days or even years ago and finally is manifested, often subconsciously, into action.   The way you think determines how you feel, and feelings drive our actions.  The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:22 how to manage our thoughts before they ever head down this path: “Turn your back on the turbulent desires of youth and give your positive attention to goodness, faith, love and peace. ”  Scripture encourages us to turn away from impure thoughts, and turn instead toward God. That two-step process is how you break a temptation before it ever gets started.

You’re thinking wrong long before you’re acting wrong. You stop the cycle by turning your back on those sinful thoughts and turning toward goodness, integrity, love, and peace. You’re not an innocent bystander to sexual sin. You have a choice.  Choose to live in the Spirit.

Prayer:  Dear God, Deliver us from all that is evil.  Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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  • The Only Thing Left To Do Now Is Pray?

    The Only Thing Left To Do Now Is Pray? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).Have you ever been in a hospital when the doctor tells the family, “I have done all that I can do.  The only thing left to do is to pray?” Or maybe you have heard these words in a dramatic scene in a television show or movie?I find these words...
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  • Words Of Life Or Death

    todd shupe
    Words Of Life Or Death “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36 NIV) You can turn on the tv news any day at any time to see that things are not peaceful.  People have strong opinions on political, social environmental, and other issues.  A variety of opinions and perspectives can help form a good decision.  However, we all tend to wear blinders and have a very limited field of view on certain issues.  This hinders our perspective and therefore our ability to see issues...
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  • What Is A “Real” Man?

    What Is A “Real” Man? I recently heard a term that caught my attention.  A friend commented on a movie actor that he liked because the actor is a “real man.” He plays tough-guy characters that don’t put up with any nonsense.    A segment of pop music encourages boys and men to be “real men” by selling drugs, killing rivals, and prostituting women.    Some TV sitcoms portray “real men” as clowns, grouchy, or unable to communicate with their family.   I reject all of these notions of a man and submit to you five characteristics of a real man:A real man honors...
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