As we come to the final month of this year, Pastor Ted Wilson invites you to reflect on this important question: "Have you put God first in your life this year?"
As Christians, it's good practice to contemplate how we are using God-given resources. What a perfect time to examine ways in which we can put God first in our lives!
As such, we celebrate this Stewardship Revival Week. It is an annual initiative where Seventh-day Adventists around the globe renew their commitment to God as His stewards.
It focuses on practical reformation in response to the admonition we have in the book Christian Service, pp. 41-42: "A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from the spiritual death. Reformation signifies reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices...Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work, they must blend."
To help us in this journey, the General Conference Stewardship Ministries Department has provided a downloadable resource entitled "God First." It is available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. You can have it here: stewardship.adventist.org/stewardship-revival-week-2021.
This magazine contains seven biblical sermons, helping us focus on what matters most, followed by a call to action. It aims to lead us into deciding to put God first in seven crucial aspects of our spiritual life. In this way, we are guided into developing a relationship with God. This faith-driven journey should become a continual exercise of trust in Him.
Think about all that God has done for you. Consider this wonderful promise found in Christ's sermon on the Mount: "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or ' What shall we wear?' For after all these things, the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:31-34).
Let's put God first in our lives and reap the blessings God will pour out upon us!