Stewardship

"Stewardship is everything you do after you say yes to Jesus Christ." - Clarence Stoughton

When I think about stewardship and about giving to the church, the first thing I think about is giving of my time and talents. This has always been an enjoyable thing for me to do. I enjoy participating in music, helping with education, visiting those who are ill, sitting on committees, and helping out in anyway I can at church. Although these activities involved some sacrifice of my time, this sort of stewardship does not involve leaps of faith for me, or much dependency on God. The hours I spend giving of my time and talents to the church family do not require me to have to be intentional about surrendering absolutely to God’s will, to having to trust God with my life.

Tithing, on the other hand, is an entirely different kettle of fish. About a year ago I heard an inspiring talk Tim McCarty gave to the church about tithing. I was so touched by his talk that I was subsequently moved to spend considerable time in prayer, reading scriptures, and talking with our pastor. I felt compelled to tithe at least 10% of my income during the next year. This was a huge challenge for me. I certainly did not see myself, a single mother, earning enough money to give such a large portion of my income to the church. I had no idea how this would fit in my budget. I was quite frightened and concerned about this. I hardly ever made it to the end of a given month without a financial mini-crisis of some sort. How could this possibly work? What if I was not able to keep this commitment? Tithing depended on my faith.

I’ve been tithing now for ten months, almost a year, and I have kept up with my pledge. I’m not sure how it has happened, although I’ve heard the term “God’s Economy”, and that might explain it. I am no richer this year than I was last year. I haven’t won the lottery, or suddenly been able to afford new things. But I have grown in my walk with Jesus and my relationship with God, in Christian fellowship, and this, I believe, is what tithing all about. I began to see my offering as an act of faith, a response to Jesus, and part of my relationship with God.

Herb Mather, of the General Board of Discipleship, puts it this way “Christian giving is a responsive act. It represents gratitude to God. It is a symbol of self-giving. Therefore, giving is not a once-for-all event, but a regular part of life. It is a spiritual discipline that reminds us who we are and whose we are.” I’ve learned that tithing is one way we worship God, it is part of being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus urges us to give not only 10%, but our whole lives, to Him. He praises the poor widow, who gave 100%, “but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:2). When I tithe, I think also of blind Bartimaeus, who responded to Jesus’ healing call by casting off his garments and following Him (Mark 10:46-10:52). I am learning, through tithing, that when we belong to God, we don’t need to be anxious. Jesus promises us that if we seek first the Kingdom of God, we will have all we need (Matthew 6:33).

Most of us believe that we are taught to use and share our resources wisely. Stewardship then may come in a variety of forms and be visible in numerous scenarios, some not as obvious as others. I think our congregation can feel that it does keep a solid focus on stewardship and that efforts with respect to this goal continue to expand.

Rev. Arnold shared an image of a tree in a recent worship service that I’d like to again use this time with respect to stewardship. We can think of the entire tree as the people of School Street Church, the mission they accomplish, and the avenues each individual or group uses to achieve its goals. The tree’s roots and leaves take in nourishment just as we receive God’s gifts for our needs. The trunk, branches, and sap that moves through it allow for the tree to be energized. When this happens it can grow, bud, and sometimes produce beautiful flowers, berries, and more. Think of the life, beauty, and character we observed from season to season in the hawthorn tree that graced our sidewalk as a memorial to David Brown and is now out at Cressey Road. We need to remember that we are taught to give from our regular lot, share our riches, and make use of our talents. This is how the Lord’s work gets done. I see School Street’s people, Pastor, programs, outreach, committees, employees, lay speakers, singers, musicians, teachers, lectors, ushers, greeters, cooks, financial resources, facilities, etc. like the “life” of that tree all of which enable it to be healthy and blossom. All that we give and do offers God’s people a wonderful worship experience on Sunday mornings, opportunities to learn and grow a Christians, a place in which children and youth feel cared for and loved, ministries to those who are in need of a ride, a meal, a place to stay, a listening ear, groceries, a job done around the house, som

eone to visit them, and so much more. It’s easy to think of all the individuals (some in an anonymous manner) in our church being like the sap of that tree doing, giving, working, sharing, etc. to make it all happen.

With the start of fall, let’s keep the image of the beautiful, thriving “tree” close and remember God’s many blessings when our thoughts turn to stewardship. Our church is certainly what it is because of all that we do and give.

Linwood has just completed a series of sermons entitled: “Getting Our House in Order”. As we strive to do that, we are faced with some things that may need a tune up to bring our current ways into alignment with what God would have us “put in order”. “As for me and my house” what has been weighing on my heart is my responsibilities of good stewardship. As time has gone on, stewardship has been more clearly defined with the realization of God working within me as I live closer to Him. As I have been living closer to God and aware of how he would have me live, I have begun to accept that God has provided all that I have in my life. Some of the things I’ve had since birth such as my parents. Any material possessions I’ve earned were earned with the skills given by God to me and or the strength drawn from Him. My conclusion is that every thing I had been laying claim to as being my own came from God; and whereas all will return to Him when I’m gone, it never really belonged to me after all (1 Peter 4:10-11). Stewardship has begun to play a very large part of my ever strengthening relationship with God and His son Jesus Christ (John 3:16), God’s ultimate gift to us all. Stewardship has become a daily reckoning of all that I’m responsible to tend to, which God has placed in my hands. As my faith has grown, the act of tending to my stewardship duties has become an opportunity for me to show my love for God and all He promises as we walk with Him. Martin Luther said: “I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God’s hand I still possess”.

Our relationship with God is meant to be full and an ever-flowing continuous exchange of love shown through our thoughts, our actions, our prayers, and our gifts. When that flow is slowed, or even worse, stopped up, our life can in time become stagnant and not nearly as full as when we let God’s gifts flow through us.

As my faith has strengthened it has become easier to let go of a portion of what used to seem important to hang on to: and in giving back that portion of what is after all “His time, His things, and His money a new act of worship has been discovered." Praise God!

"Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can." (John Wesley)

"On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." Corinthians 16:2

"And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." Luke 21:1-4.

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38

But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:27-28.