| Dear Friends in Christ: "Stewardship" means: using God giving abilities to manage God given resources, to accomplish God's ordained results. That's important. When I thin of Stewardship I often only think of my money (giving of my resources). But giving money to the church is not stewardship, it is merely a part of stewardship. (Though you can't be a 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 a part of stewardship and you can't be a steward without giving of your abilities. Well, if stewardship is not about what I can give, and not what I can do...what is it about? Stewardship is about having the heart of stewardship. 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. The parable about the Good Samaritan is a parable about the attitude of stewardship. There are three attitudes on display in the story...and many churchgoers exhibit 1 of those 3. The 1st attitude is this: "What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it (the thieves on the road)." The 2nd attitude is "What's mine is mine and I'm going to keep it." Who does Jesus say passed by this an in the ditch? (A Levite and a Pharisee). These were men of ministry. these were religious leaders. These were the doers in the congregation. They were trained to serve God - but they didn't do anything for the beaten man. In order for them to help this man, they'd have to give up something important to them...their time, their resources, their personal comfort. They'd been trained to do "religious things." They'd been trained to do ministry. But when the time came to do "real ministry" they turned their heads away. Their attitude is "What's mine is mine and I'm going to keep it." The 3rd attitude is "What's mine is yours - I'll share it with you. The Samaritan was not "trained in ministry." the Samaritan was probably not any wealthier than the Levite or the Pharisee. This Samaritan probably had other things to do in his life. And yet, he stopped when the others walked on by. What made the difference? - His attitude. The Samaritan's attitude helped him: 1. overcome his prejudice, 2. Ignore the inconvenience, 3. Give up his possessions to take care of this man. His attitude was what made the story worth telling. What's the right attitude for a "good steward" of God? You know what a "steward" is? 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 my mind what I don't own: 1. My Time 2. My Money 3. My Possessions 4. My Relationships They're all God's. They belong to God. I just manage them. If I master this attitude - I'm a Good Steward.
|
