Tag Archives: being good stewards

To Insure Proper Service

The concept of a tip was first mentioned in George Farquhar’s play The Beaux Stratagem of 1706.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, this 17th century term means to give or pass.  Thus, this act of gratitude has since been applied by individuals to local businesses who exhibit quality service.  Today, the acronym known as TIPS exists to insure proper service.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace, 1 Peter 4:10.

One of my first jobs was at the Concord Mall, serving as a bus boy in the old cafeteria.  Whether it was my service or not, I rarely received a decent tip, often collecting spare change left on tables.  Those who work in restaurant and service oriented positions tend to live and die by the gratuities one receives.  This element leads to jubilation or disappointment, motivating individuals to do whatever possible to insure proper service.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another, Galatians 5:13.

If only Christians could apply this concept to daily life, the world would be a better place.  According to the apostle Paul, Jesus freed mankind from the burden of sin so that people can serve one another through love.  To insure proper service in local communities requires hearts inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Relying on your own strength, the love human beings possess is limited.  Therefore, if you want to maximum your full potential, pray that God will revive and transform you to become the loving hands of Jesus here on earth.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

Faith Week

When I was a child, schools did not have many national holidays.  Sure, I would miss days for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter break, but once school began in the fall, days off were few and far between.  In recent days, political correctness has added several new holiday days and theme weeks for educators to shape the minds of children.  Unfortunately, facts and history are being replaced by ideology, liberal philosophies and unproven theories.

As Earth Week began yesterday, Monday 22nd, going green will be shoved down the throats of all those who watch television the next 7 days.  I am not saying that I am against this movement, as the days of using rivers and streams as dumping areas is disappearing.  Nor are their any river fires like the 5 which occurred on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, the last of which made national headlines in the early 1970’s.  My point is that the only thing individuals can really control their own life by being good stewards of those possessions God has bestowed upon them.

Well, since the media appears to have control the annual dates of days and themes, I want to declare April 29th-May 5th, Faith Week.  When I studied the Great Awakening in seminary, I was shocked by the moral decay of America in the 1790’s.  Societal patterns which existed in the late 1790’s are similar to those which exist in today’s colleges and universities.  Yet, when I few Christians began to meet together in a concert of prayer, another Pentecost occurred Acts 5:31.  If the church rises up, united in prayer, maybe another Great Awakening is around the corner.  As for now, follow in the footsteps of the apostles, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2.

by Jay Mankus