Value #9

A servant’s heart is necessary for every leader to empower others.

Servanthood is a primary thread that runs through the fabric of God’s relationship with His creation, His chosen people, Jesus, the church and the world. While it reached its pinnacle in the life of Christ, it must grow unfettered through servant-leaders and our relationships with one another in the body of Christ.
God has shown us many elements of servanthood through a house restoration, directing a family camp, counseling, secular jobs and ministry. He has taught us humility and how to focus beyond ourselves as we restore an 1857 limestone farmhouse. We have just completed the sixth 5-year plan, and the restoration is not yet finished! In restoration and servanthood, He has taught us that His timing is not ours.
God has shown us pride has no place in a servant’s heart. Marion, who had always been a “neatnick” housekeeper, came to be comfortable hosting Christian and non-Christian gatherings in our home in spite of its condition. Sometimes that included pink insulation walls, limestone chip heaps on the living room floor as we opened up a fireplace, buckets catching rainwater from a leaking roof and many other “untidy” sights. Time, money and energy and doing hidden tasks are ingredients of home renovations as they are in servant leadership.
As senior leaders, we have found that we have to, as Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Bury self ambition, and in humility set ourselves aside and help others get ahead” and “Speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29, our paraphrase). We attempt, in Living Stones Christian Fellowship, to model servant leadership by:
· Enlisting the aid of cell members in helping our folks to make a move, and as servant leaders, we have done as much lugging as we expected them to do!
· Making cakes for special events and hosting meals
· Providing transportation for cell members to appointments, cell and celebration
· Leading and hosting cell and celebration
· Teaching the children and youth
· Tithing
· Using our natural and spiritual gifts
· Participating in members’ house repairs
As we have endeavored to “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13b), others are beginning to take on added responsibilities as they both observe and are led of the Lord to find their area of service. They, as we, are learning that the more we serve Christ, the less we will serve self.

Bern and Marion McLaughlan are the senior elders of Living Stones Christian Fellowship, Ontario, Canada.

Value #10

Biblical prosperity is essential to kingdom expansion through generosity and integrity.

Prosperity—everyone wants it. How do I get it? Are there any shortcuts? Why does it seem out of reach for me but seemingly so easy for those around me?
Wait a minute. We are talking about biblical prosperity. What is prosperity from a biblical perspective? “Now He who supplies seed for the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (II Corinthians 9:10). I believe that God’s heart is that we all have food (substance for our family) for ourselves and seed (extra over what we need) to give to others. One of the main aspects of the Christian life is giving. If we lose the ability to give, we have lost a major portion of the kingdom of God in our lives.
I believe the road to prosperity starts right in that little secret called the tithe. The Lord of Hosts says in Malachi 3:8-12: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts” (NKJV).
We need to understand that poverty is a curse, and prosperity is a blessing. You cannot expect to be prosperous and rob God at the same time. It will not work. It is a simple thing to understand and yet a common mistake that too many Christians make.
Tithing is a great place to start, but when we are talking kingdom, we are talking giving. While our tithe needs to go to the storehouse (our local church), we should be involved in giving above and beyond our tithe. Giving is a sign of prosperity. It is having more than enough for yourself so that you can give to others.
We are called to financial integrity. This integrity with God’s money flows out of the recognition that everything we are and have belongs to the Lord. God promises to supply all our needs. He wants us to believe for more than what we need so that we might have the blessing of giving to those in need. As God increases our prosperity, it should not result in irresponsible or wasteful spending, but in an increase in giving!

Ron Myer, DOVE Lebanon, serves on the DCFI Apostolic Council and leads the DOVE USA Team.