Personal Stewardship Series Day 1: Who Am I and Why Am I Important to God? Read “Eyes on Eternity” pp. 34-36 – from “The Treasure Principle” Read Genesis 1:26-30 William Borden and King Tut saw themselves differently - one as an earthly to-be-King, the other in service of the real King.

What does it mean to be created in God’s image? Genesis 1:26, 27 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (TNIV) Gen. 1:26&27 - emphasizes that we are made in God’s image. What does it mean to be created in God’s image? According to the text the focus is on our responsibility to rule. Like God we have the freedom to make decisions - to make choices. We can choose, make good or bad choices. We are to rule and use and even have the freedom to abuse. What does it mean to be created in God’s image?

We are created in God’s image yet we’re not all the same. Why is that? 2 Cor. 4:4 says: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Scripture is emphatic about us being made IN God’s image. Note that the 2 Cor. 4:4 text says that Jesus IS the image of God. Jesus IS we are merely made IN. It seems to mean that we reflect some limited aspects or differing attributes of God’s image - but not all. What the significance of this passage?

Who determined where you are, who you are, what you have, your various roles and your opportunities? It is an amazing thought - but we could have been born in a different era, in a different place and under other circumstances - poorer or richer. God the Creator has determined your place and station in life.

Is That All There Is? Peggy Lee J. Lieber - M. Stoller INTRODUCTION The author of this unit - Rick DeGraaf - as a teenager wondered what he was going to do with his life. He thought he might go to college or university because he could do well in school, but he also knew his parents would not be able to help him financially. At the time, he liked cars. When he was old enough to drive, his Dad provided him with an old car that wasn’t great, but it was available because his Mom didn’t drive. His Dad was as happy as he was when he got his licence, because now he could help out with running errands for his family. Rick had a friend Harold, who was an only child of parents who were financially much better off than his own. Harold had a really great car - a 1967 Camero with a 327cc engine. Maybe it was out of pity that Harold said to Rick one day: “Here are my keys, would you like to take my car for a spin?” Rick didn’t hesitate He took off in a hurry and had lots of fun accelerating and feeling the car’s power push him back in the seat. But… after awhile, the exhilaration wore off, and he started thinking, “Whoopee, I can go fast but so what! Is that all there is to that?” The words of a song that was being played on the radio around that time kept going through his thoughts. Listen and read the words to that song - and consider for yourself...

I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire.

I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the pavement.

I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames. And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire?"

Is that all there is, is that all there is Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing.

Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is …

And when I was 12 years old, my Daddy took me to a circus, the greatest show on earth.

There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears.

And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads.

And as I sat there watching,

I had the feeling that something was missing.

I don't know what, but when it was all over, I said to myself, “Is that all there is to a circus?”

Is that all there is, is that all there is Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,

Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.

Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in all the world.

We would take long walks down by the river

or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.

We were so very much in love.

Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't, and when I didn't I said to myself, “Is that all there is to love?"

Is that all there is. is that all there is Is that all there is? is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep …

I know what you must be saying to yourselves - if that's the way she feels about it,

why doesn't she just end it all?

Oh, no, not me. I'm not ready for that final disappointment, for I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,

when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:

Is that all there is, is that all there is Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing.

Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.

Is That All There Is? Peggy Lee J. Lieber - M. Stoller

What do you think she was looking for? (see SR 1-2 Q 1) I had the feeling that something was missing, I don’t know what, but... What do you think she was looking for? (see SR 1-2 Q 1) What’s wrong with the TGIF lifestyle? What’s the missing ingredient? (see SR 1-2 Q 2) She’s looking for meaning - for purpose. TGIF: Thank God It’s Friday - living for weekends, parties Purpose is missing - that it matters what I do.

That it does matter! I matter enough to my heavenly father - that he would send his Son - for me! Because of what Jesus did - I matter! I count… I have worth - God values me!

There must be something more to life than just work and fun. What is it? What is God looking for from his unique work of creation, namely you? (see SR 1-2 Q 3) Imagine that you were born into a poor slum family, living on railway land beside the tracks in ____________ the capital city of _____________. Consider food, clothing, your living circumstances and your opportunities for education and work? How different would your life be? (see SR 1-2 Q 4) To be engaged for God’s purposes. He is looking for us to develop our skills and abilities and use them to glorify him and to benefit others (loving God and neighbour). People in poverty don’t think much about tomorrow - just about their next meal - let alone have heady thoughts about meaning to life or higher education. Poverty limits perspective even more than most of us realize.

Why doesn’t God simply use his power to solve all the problems of the world? (see SR 1-2 Q 5) In your own words, list the reasons why you am important to God and he is important to you. (see SR 1-2 Q 6) God could solve all the problems of this world with one snap of his fingers. The Israelites thought that Jesus would restore the Kingdom of Israel like David or Solomon - but instead Jesus spent his time training ordinary people to be his disciples. That’s the way God works. We are created on PURPOSE for PURPOSE. So each person is important as an instrument in God’s Kingdom enterprise! God chooses to work in relationship with His people - work through us, His disciples/servants. God created each of us with unique gifts -we are important to him and he wants us to be busy in his Kingdom enterprise.

The Stewardship Project has been a collaborative effort of Christian Stewardship Services (CSS), Foundation for Niagara Christian Schools (FNCS) and the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS). CSS: http:// www.csservices.ca FNCS: http://www.foundationniagara.ca OACS: http://www.oacs.org © 2008 Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS)