Inspiring a deeper understanding of true giving March 2016 Stewardship Your Stewardship Toolkit Cutting down a tree with a brace and a bit can be done

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9 Inspiring a deeper understanding of true giving March 2016 Stewardship Your Stewardship Toolkit Cutting down a tree with a brace and a bit can be done, but it is a hard job. So is measuring a board with a pair of tin snips. Making a square corner can be accomplished with a yard rake, but it s certainly a great deal of trouble. There s a tool for every job The brace and bit drills a good hole in the toughest lumber. The tree saw cuts the strongest limb. The square measures a straight corner every time. The paint sprayer gives a good coat of enamel and makes an old car shine like new. The toughest tin can be cut with the right pair of snippers in just a jiffy. When a tool is used right, it s a handy thing. Stewardship is just a set of tools God s plan of stewardship is a set of tools that God uses to get his work done. Over 4,000 years ago, God showed man how to use these tools to accomplish what he wanted done. They met the need, so God has continued to use them over all these years. I have some tools in my tool box that I haven t used in years. They have just been in the box... rusting away. They will still do the job if I would use them. The other night I needed a certain kind of screwdriver. Instead of getting the right kind, I just made do with what I had. It worked, but not too well. The right one would have made the job a great deal easier. Get the right tool Many Christians try to just get by in their giving. They always come out on the short end of the stick when they do this. The principle in stewardship is that a man cannot out-give God. When we give less than giving in proportion to our income, we are trying to do a job with the wrong tool. Give God what is due unto him. Give out of a heart of love. Give based on an honest and a reasonable appraisal of your income. See if the right tool doesn t work better than just any old kind of wrench. Christian Stewardship is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, abilities, and material possessions based on the conviction that these are a trust from God, to be used in his service for the benefit of all humankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ s redeeming love. 1

10 Ben, years ago our forefathers endured hardship and sacrifices to leave this edifice for us. They built it strong and beautiful, Sam told him. If you can t sense the spirit of those old saints, then at least appreciate the sacrifice this building represents. Support it with thankfulness. His First Dollar Sam, I can only get enthusiastic about my giving, when I know my money is going to people for evangelism, for charity, etc., declared Ben Bucks, I don t intend to support a building. Ben, first know that the church M will accept money ear-marked for onetary gifts specific purposes. So you have no to God teach reason for withholding your giving, us patience and prudence. We learn how countered old Sam Elder. All of us would prefer to benefit people. to control our inordinate wishing for many Well, I don t like to see other people contributing toward a building, when there s so much suffering things that we buy. This discipline of our will in this world, continued Ben. makes it easier for us to How long do you think we would live God s law. Therefore giving definitely have an active church, if we didn t have our building? The only thing helps us to do God s that keeps new churches surviving will. is the hope of someday having their own home, said Sam. Buildings are for comfort. I would like to see people a little uncomfortable, but giving much to charity, argued Ben. Good thought, but a church operates more efficiently, when it has its own space for equipment and supplies; for worship, classes, and meetings; thus we save time and labor for all the people involved, Sam indicated. I could agree, if our church edifice was modern, but it s old, worn and burdened with tradition. I can t get sentimental about stones and mortar, Ben said. There is a delightful story about a little church that was having a reunion celebration to which former members who had moved away were invited. One former member who attended was a man who became a selfmade millionaire. He, along with others, were giving testimonials on their growth in faith. The rich man talked about when he was a little boy in that church. When he had earned his first dollar, he decided to keep it forever. But, then, a visiting missionary came to the church and preached about the urgent need for money in the mission fields. Deeply moved, a great struggle came over the little boy when the offering plate was passed. He continued the story: However, the Lord won, and I put my treasured dollar in the offering basket. And I am convinced that the reason God blessed me so richly is that when I was a boy, I gave God everything I possessed! The congregation was all caught up in his testimonial when a little old lady in front piped up and said, Mister, I dare you to do it again! 2

11 A Christian steward works as an instrument of God. In all aspects of daily life, he or she cheerfully performs the work God has planned for his people. Being a Christian is accepting the role of steward. There should be no need to dwell on our responsibility, for it is clearly presented to us in the words of Sacred Scripture - the command to take care of creation and the command to love one another. It s time to start living as Christian stewards, giving our time and our talents for God s work on earth. Much of an individual s life is in preparation for this work. We know that Christ s life with Mary and Joseph was in preparation for his public life. As an adult he committed himself to his Father s work. Each individual Christian is called to action, to do more than read, talk and study about the conditions of the world. Recall Matthew s account of Christ s teaching, I was hungry and you gave me to eat I was thirsty and you gave me to drink Truly I say to you, the least of my brethren, you did it to me. Today this teaching would have to apply to things that are less than Christian: I was hungry and you sent me the pill, I was thirsty and you drowned me with statistics, I was naked and you formed a discussion group, I was sick and you counseled patience, I was in prison and you joined a law and order committee. There are those who feel no personal responsibility in this matter of helping. They would have governmental agencies take care of all in need. We must remember that God s relationship with his people is a personal one in which he gave man a personal responsibility. Man cannot delegate his responsibility to an organization. Stewardship is giving your time and talent for God s work on earth. The time to start is now. Paul said, While we have time, let us do good to all men... The first step is to put God first in your life. As an adult you give of your time to those who are in need, you give of your talent where it will help bring men together in the name of Christ. The BIT in Your Bottle An ancient story tells of a Triumphal Feast scheduled in a certain village. To assure adequate refreshments, each villager agreed to pour one bottle of his best wine into a giant cask. But one reasoned to himself, If I fill my bottle with water, the dilution will be so slight, who will ever notice it? When the Feast commenced, and the great cask was tapped, the townspeople were shocked that there was nothing but water that poured forth! Everybody in the village had figured alike, reasoning The bit in my bottle will never be missed! At your church, too, the sacrifice of everyone able counts. Because the need is great, your gift will be missed as we struggle to carry on our church programs with the budget demands upon us. We ask each member who can to place Good Wine in his bottle represented by a Good Gift to their church. Let us be generous with gifts we can give to others: Time, Good Example, Acceptance, Seeing the Best in People, Self-esteem, Self-disclosure, Helping Someone Learn Something New, Listening, Fun, Letting Others Give to You. 3

12 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25: Copyright Parish Publishing, LLC May not be reproduced without permission