Guiding Principles part three

Continued....

Be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). A living sacrifice is one who has committed to a life of submission to another. In some sense it's easy to die for a cause, but living for it is much more difficult. This involves some of the other characteristics I've discussed: humility, love, concern for others. Being sacrificial in our pursuit of excellence means being willing to lift others up and not worrying about our own agenda or position. When we sacrifice, we are giving something up. Usually however, there is reciprocity, for God is a loving God as well as a just God.

Service and Commitment to others (Php 2:17). Service toward others includes humility and sacrifice, as has been discussed, but it also carries the idea of unwavering attention, diligence, and commitment to carry through in what is best for others. Service is love in action. Love cannot be true love without a commitment and service. Service and Commitment show that we truly believe instead of just wishing to believe, wanting to believe, or saying we believe; it's where the rubber hits the road.

Servanthood (Mat. 20:26). Servanthood is similar to service, commitment, and sacrifice but also has the idea of position. When we assign ourselves to a position of servant hood we are humbling ourselves in an active way. To serve is to be available and to have the right information. When God called Eve Adam's "help meet" she was the "help" that was "meet" (or just right) for Adam. We don't go to a plumber if we need a brain surgeon. To be a servant is not to be a doormat, but a critical support structure that provides information, action, attitude, and other things as needed to support the organization or person.

Integrity, Conscientiousness, & Trustworthiness. These things are results of a loving heart and a result of having first been loved. We show integrity because there is a truth that must be adhered to, and we believe it. We are conscientiousness because we know that we are also fallible, have needs, and are part of an ecosystem. We are trust worthy because we choose to show true concern for others whom we have covenanted with for particular pursuit. Because we care about the team, we demonstrate our ability to deliver and adhere to our word.

Stewardship (Lk 12:42-28). Stewardship is to be a good manager of the resources that we've been given charge of. A good manager knows that he doesn't own the resources, but that it's his job to do the right thing and the best thing with those resources as he possibly can. We do this out of respect for those that are the true owners. As a believer we have been given an lot in Christ, therefore we give a lot of our selves back to Him. We give, not because we owe Him or need to repay Him, but to show that we love Him and appreciate His gift to us.