The way we hear sermons is very personal, right? Obviously the preacher does his best to craft a sermon that will prick hearts, but not all hearts are the same. Some are ripe for pricking, others are calloused. Some have been through a lot in a week’s time, others are riding apathy. Everyone hears a sermon differently, and yet we all take it personally. How does this apply to my life right now? How does it change my tomorrow? How can it help me grow?

Now, my husband is my preacher (and the best preacher if I’m being totally biased!), but he doesn’t cater sermons for me. And so, he didn’t intentionally pick out the sermon that would ultimately be the first sermon I’d hear while pregnant. In fact, when he planned the sermon, and even when he started studying for the sermon that week, we had no idea that I was pregnant. Still, it was a perfect sermon for me to hear.

You see, the first sermon I heard when I found out I was pregnant was a sermon on stewardship. And yikes, did it hit me right between the eyes.

Up to this point in my life, I’ve been a steward of a lot of different things. Time, talent, resources, marriage. But now, God has entrusted me to be a steward of a human being; a soul. This grand adventure just got a lot grander…and scarier.

But here’s the thing: regardless of whether you’re pregnant or not, married or not, rich or not, overflowing with talents or not, you’re still a steward. And God still expects a return on the things He’s blessed you with. So how are you using your life? Your time? Your family? Your ability? Your money? Your job? Are you giving all to Jesus? Are you putting all things under His care? The temptation — for me, at least— is to sometimes try to put things under my control…try to do the best for myself that I can with what I’ve been given. But ultimately, that’s not enough, is it?

You see, we must use our time/talents/resources/marriage/family/life for God’s purposes. We must use everything we’ve been given to give back to Him. Whatever talent we have, we use to bring glory to God. We use to help others. Whatever resources we’ve been given, we give to the church. We give to the poor. We give liberally without expecting anything in return. In everything, we are simply stewards. Caring for things for a time, but they aren’t really ours at all. We’re just the tools that get to use them for the glory and praise of our God.

So it’s gonna be tough, not getting all wrapped up in this first child of mine; not looking for how they will bless me and make me happy. But it’s not about me. It’s about making sure God is glorified through me having this child. Which means it’s all about raising a soul who’s interested in souls. Raising a child to hand back to God as a part of His kingdom. Raising a child that will bless others with joy and happiness, not one who is entitled to think they deserve all the joy and happiness from others. And it takes a village, am I right? So I’m thankful that you’re a part of my village, and I pray that we’ll help each other be the types of stewards we should be, with whatever it is that God has blessed us each with.