The hot summer months put a huge strain on power-grids throughout the world. Heat waves drive the use of air-conditioners through the roof resulting in tremendous use of electricity. Power companies try their best to encourage the wise use of their resource. They ask folks to limit the use of air-conditioners during the day. The charge higher rates during peak hours in order to drive people to use energy when the demand is lower. Some companies even offer devices that control the use of appliances remotely, allowing them to limit their use with the user’s consent or participation.
There are many good reasons for us to limit the use of energy. We need to be conscious of how the generation of electricity and other forms of power impact our environment negatively. We have to be aware of the limited amount of power sources that exist, and the fact that we must share what we have with a planet full of people. As people of faith, or just as responsible citizens of earth it’s simply a good idea to be careful and judicious stewards of God’s creation.
As people of faith, however, the rules of good stewardship are slightly different. When we follow Jesus or seek to do God’s will, we are not called to hold back at all. Instead, we are invited to give it all we’ve got, all the time. When we trust God as our energy source, we have a limitless resource available always and everywhere. Wise stewardship of Godly gifts like love and caring does not mean conserving them or holding them back. These gifts are meant to be shared as extravagantly as they were first given to us.
Think of what Jesus did for us. His death and subsequent resurrection would not have been possible had He held back. Had Jesus not used His full Godliness and total capacity for love, he’d still be in the grave and we’d still be totally lost to sin. We are called to give of ourselves the same way. We are called to expend ourselves rather than hold back.
We can do this because our ultimate source of energy is a limitless one. We are empowered by God himself and that means we have a resource that can never be exhausted. In fact, the more we give of ourselves, the more we get to give even more. Sure, our physical resources are limited. God does not provide us with infinite quantities of money. We do not have an eternity to live. We do, however, have way more than we need in spiritual terms. From a soul-perspective, we can count on God to provide for us extravagantly and freely.
Energy conservation is great when it comes to air-conditioners and high energy appliances. As far as faith is concerned, we need not worry about saving energy. All we have to be concerned with is how we’re going to use God’s Spiritual gifts freely and extravagantly.
There are many good reasons for us to limit the use of energy. We need to be conscious of how the generation of electricity and other forms of power impact our environment negatively. We have to be aware of the limited amount of power sources that exist, and the fact that we must share what we have with a planet full of people. As people of faith, or just as responsible citizens of earth it’s simply a good idea to be careful and judicious stewards of God’s creation.
As people of faith, however, the rules of good stewardship are slightly different. When we follow Jesus or seek to do God’s will, we are not called to hold back at all. Instead, we are invited to give it all we’ve got, all the time. When we trust God as our energy source, we have a limitless resource available always and everywhere. Wise stewardship of Godly gifts like love and caring does not mean conserving them or holding them back. These gifts are meant to be shared as extravagantly as they were first given to us.
Think of what Jesus did for us. His death and subsequent resurrection would not have been possible had He held back. Had Jesus not used His full Godliness and total capacity for love, he’d still be in the grave and we’d still be totally lost to sin. We are called to give of ourselves the same way. We are called to expend ourselves rather than hold back.
We can do this because our ultimate source of energy is a limitless one. We are empowered by God himself and that means we have a resource that can never be exhausted. In fact, the more we give of ourselves, the more we get to give even more. Sure, our physical resources are limited. God does not provide us with infinite quantities of money. We do not have an eternity to live. We do, however, have way more than we need in spiritual terms. From a soul-perspective, we can count on God to provide for us extravagantly and freely.
Energy conservation is great when it comes to air-conditioners and high energy appliances. As far as faith is concerned, we need not worry about saving energy. All we have to be concerned with is how we’re going to use God’s Spiritual gifts freely and extravagantly.
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