Stewarding a Fruitful and Balanced Life: Questions for Self-Evaluation
by Jeff Hostetter & Evan Keller of Creating Jobs Inc
As we begin a new year, we are posting some ‘foundational’ material on our biblical foundations for business as mission and how we respond to God’s call in each of our individual lives and circumstances.
Want a tool for 2022 growth? In the tradition of assessing areas of growth in the new year, Jeff and Evan created a set of penetrating self-assessment questions in these various aspects of life: growing spiritually, investing in self, managing God’s gifts, stewarding vocations, and nurturing relationships.
Self-Evaluation Questions for Intentional Growth in Following Jesus
“…so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” – Colossians 1:10
Growing Spiritually
- Christ-centered: Am I keeping Jesus, his person, his grace, his example, and his Kingdom mission at the center of my life?
- Scripture: Am I regularly soaking in God’s Word in multiple ways (listening, meditating, memorizing, studying, and applying)?
- Character: Do my choices reveal an intention to become more and more like Jesus? Am I growing in Christlike traits, including the fruit of the Spirit?
- Integrity: Do my private thoughts, words and actions match the person I portray to others?
- Humility: How am I battling pride and putting others first in my thoughts and actions?
- Gratitude: How am I replacing complaining with gratitude throughout each day?
- Identity: Am I secure as a child of God or do I try to prove myself by what I say and do?
- Purpose: Am I joining God in his mission by using my gifts to glorify him and bless others?
- Spiritual Gifts: How am I using my spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ?
- Accountability: Who do I regularly lean on for prayer and support in my areas of weakness? What sins am I confessing and repenting of lately?
- Mentors: Who am I seeking mentoring from in key areas of needed growth?
- Maturity: How have I grown in the last six months?
- Idols: Am I examining my heart and inviting God to destroy anything that seeks to usurp his supremacy?
- Corporate Worship: Am I regularly encountering God and exploring His Word with other believers?
- Prayer: Am I praying regularly for my family, community, nation, the lost, the poor, the local and global church, and for God’s Kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven”?
- Death: Defying the cultural denial of death, am I “numbering my days”, preparing spiritually, relationally, and financially for my eventual passing?
- Kingdom: Am I nurturing a longing for God’s Kingdom, including regularly imagining how small and large things in various aspects of life will be different in the Shalom of the Kingdom?