3.5. AS STRENGTHENER OF YOU IN FAITHFUL TRUSTEESHIP

The Holy Spirit is God's mark on you, that you belong to Him. Your mind is His, you are to think God's way, your body is His, you are to present it to Him as a daily sacrifice. Your spirit is God's, you remember that you are bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. "

Everything you are and have must be set apart (holy) to Him. Your things are His. Your business is not yours but His. You are His steward. Better get used to saying "His", not "mine". You are purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, whose house you are by the Holy Spirit. You have been entrusted with time. It is important to remember there is no stated amount of time given us (James 4:13-16 ). Therefore it is critical that we manage well the time God has given us. You need the Holy Spirit's advice given through Paul, "Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV )

You must live right and make full use of the time God has granted you, so that with wise conduct, help turn those in darkness in your business world, to light in Christ. In your stewardship you are to manage your life affairs, your personal finances and your business, as a responsible child of God led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14 ), which incorporates accountability for your money (Matthew 25:14-30 ). By giving to God in proportion to how He has prospered you is an acknowledgment that God is the sole possessor of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:17-24 ), including you.

There are principles to be applied to your trusteeship with the help of the Holy Spirit:-

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THERE IS A DETACHMENT TO BE CULTIVATED

You are to be detached from the world's ways of thinking and the world's fashion of living (1 John 2:15-16 ). Detachment from the world's thinking of possessions "what's mine is my own" is expressed in "not mine own, I hold all that I am and have in trust for Him." This can only become a reality by a life lived in the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:8-9 ). In the Holy Spirit life you can detach yourself from the worldly attitude of "What shall I get?" to "How can I enjoy this money entrusted to me for God's interests". The difference for spiritual people and their money is that they have the money, but the money does not have them!

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THERE IS A PRIORITY TO BE REMEMBERED

Prioritise the kingdom of God in your spending and time - and let the kingdom of God have first call on your abilities (Matthew 6:33 ).

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THERE IS A BALANCE TO BE MAINTAINED

Your giving to the needs of others requires a balanced response. Not a response of forced command, rather a giving out of the grace and love supplied by the Lord through the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 8:8 ). Even freely giving beyond your ability (2 Corinthians 8:3 ) must be of a willing mind (a response of reasoning that leads to willingness). It must not be giving that exceeds what you have - it is not acceptable to give what you do not have (2 Corinthians 8:12 ). There is no warrant in Scripture for going into debt to give. It is an unacceptable practice to be manipulated into putting on your credit card an amount to give to a good cause, in presumptuous faith that God will be honour bound to compensate you.

Balance in giving will also weigh in favour of those who are your dependents. God expects you to provide for your own a good standard of living (1 Timothy 5:8 ). It is by the balance of common sense and spiritual insight that you come into your trusteeship to where you are able to say "I do always those things that please Him" (John 8:39 ).

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THERE IS A CONTROL TO BE EXERCISED

All your effort of mind and will needs to be energised and directed by the Holy Spirit in order to succeed in fulfilling the trust God has been pleased to grant to you.

It is no light responsibility to be in business for God. There must be on your part a resolute and determined co-operation with the Holy Spirit, that can only be realised by your whole life being lived in the Spirit.

	What acts of reception of the Holy Spirit in your business, requires your special attention?
	What assistance of the Holy Spirit do you need in your business right now?
	Are you letting the Holy Spirit do His assigned work in your business?
	What are the practical issues for you in regard to the Holy Spirit and business?