It's about TIME. Time was created by God, along with the rest of creation. How we spend our time tells who we are and whose we are. Most of us live over-scheduled lives. How we live in time reflects our relationship to God.
It's about RELATIONSHIPS. One of God's greatest gifts to us is relationships. The Bible teaches us to love people and use possessions rather than to use people and love possessions. Four of the 10 Commandments deal with our relationship with God. The other six deal with our relationship to each other.
It's about the ENVIRONMENT. The creation stories in Genesis clearly identify our responsibility for the care and concern for "this fragile earth our island home". In Genesis 2:15 when Adam is put in the garden to work it and care for it the Hebrew word suggests the exercising of dominion as a caring benevolent ruler.
It's about TALENT. Each of us is unique, given gifts for ministry by God in a way no one else has. When we apply our talents to meet the needs of the world and our neighbor, we are being good stewards of our unique gifts.
t's about WORSHIP and GOD'S WORD. Evangelism, which is sharing the Gospel, and stewardship go hand in hand. Our very attendance at church services is an act of stewardship for when we gather to worship, we are exercising stewardship of the faith that God has given us.
It's about MONEY. 15% of everything Jesus said related to money and possessions. He made more references to money and possessions than either prayer or faith. He spoke more about money and possessions than heaven or hell. Why? Because scripture makes clear that there is a fundamental connection between a person's spiritual life and his attitudes about money and possessions. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (found in both Matthew and Luke). The Bible gives a very effective method for lessening our attachment to possessions: give a tithe, 10% to God and keep 90% for yourself. This is a very practical step in lessening our attachment to money.
It's about LIFE. Stewardship encompasses all that we are, and all that we hope to become. Stewardship is not a program. Stewardship is not about raising money. Stewardship is not here today and gone tomorrow. Stewardship is a journey. It's about life. In fact, stewardship is a way of life.
