Identity // Healthier Relationships

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1) What is STEWARDSHIP of SELF?

Stewardship - noun. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Mark 12:28-31 NIV

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

Love is Patient

Love is Kind

Love Does Not Envy

Love Does Not Boast

Love Is Not Proud

Love Does Not Dishonor

Love Is Not Selfish

Love Is Not Easily Angered

Love Keep No Record

Love Does Not Delight in Evil

Love Rejoices in Truth

Love Always Protects

Love Always Trusts 

Love Always Hopes

Love Never Quits

2) What is Healthy SHARING?

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Matthew 7:6 NIV

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ephesians 5:31 NIV

31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

James 5:16 NIV

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

3) What/Who Really is Your SOURCE?

Jeremiah 17:5-6a NIV

5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6a That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

1. What is STEWARDSHIP of SELF?

2. What is Healthy SHARING?

3. What/ Who Really is Your SOURCE?

Questions:

1. What is stewardship of self? What does it really mean to love yourself in the Biblical definition?

2. Do you feel like you have a slant toward unhealthy sharing (it could be over sharing with people that haven’t earned trust or isolating and not sharing at all.) If so, what is one way you can work on being healthier at sharing?

3. What or who is the source of your life? How do you know? How will you keep this in check?