"Stewardship" a word that puts fear in
the hearts of church folk, but finds joy
in the hearts of God's people. Stewardship means: using
God given abilities to
manage God given resources, to accomplish God ordained results. My brothers
and sisters, that's important. When we think of stewardship it's often about money.
Giving
money to our church is not stewardship it is merely part of stewardship.
And you can't be steward without
giving of money. So, if stewardship isn't about
money, maybe it is about doing ministry (giving
of my abilities). But what you do in
ministry for God is not stewardship either. It is
also a part of good stewardship and
you can't be a steward without giving of your abilities.
Well pastor, if stewardship
is not about what I can give, and not what I can do... what is it about?
I'm glad you asked.
Stewardship is about having the "Heart of Stewardship." In
other words, good
stewardship is a matter of attitude that stands behind your giving and your service.
It's not what you give or what you do for God, it's why you do it. If you give money
(your
resources) with the wrong attitude ... you're not being a good steward. And if
you do ministry
(serve the church) with the wrong attitude .. again you're not being a
good steward. The parable
in Luke 10:25-37 of the Good Samaritan is a parable about
the attitude of stewardship. I notice
there are three attitudes on display in this parable ...
and many church goers exhibit 1 of these 3.
The 1st attitude is: What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it (vs. 30 -- the thieves on the road).
The 2nd attitude is: What's mine and I'm going to keep it (vs. 31-32)
And
the 3rd attitude is: What's mine is yours -- I'll share it with you (vs. 33-37)
In this parable
Jesus said a Levite and a Pharisee passed by this man who was in the ditch.
These were men of ministry. These were
religious leaders. These were the doers in the
congregation. They were trained to serve God -- but they're
not going to do anything for this
beaten man. In order for them to help this man, they'd have to give up something
important
to them... their time, their resources, and personal comfort. They've been trained to do
"religious
things." They've been trained to do ministry. But when the time comes to do
"real ministry"
they turn their backs on God. Their attitude is "What's mine is mine -- I'm
going to keep it. The Good
Samaritan in this parable was not "trained in ministry" he was
probably not any wealtheir than the Levite or
Pharisee. He probably had other things to do
in his life. And yet, he stopped where the others (church folk)
walked on by. What made the
difference? ... "his attitude." The Samaritan's attitude helped him:
So my brothers and sisters, the right attitude
for a good steward of God is the
attitude of ownership. A steward is someone who takes care of something for
someone else. If you're a steward you don't own what you have. So, if I'm going
to be a steward for God
I need to make up in my mind that I don't own...
My time
My money
My possessions
My relationships
They're all His.
They belong to Him. I just manage them.
What do people say about giving in church?
Good Attitudes -- Here we grew again.
Bad Attitudes -- Here we go-again
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
In Him,
Reverend John O. Veasey,
Jr.
