|
 Dear
Saints:
Safer.
Smarter. More Secure.
That's how the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing describes the
new generation of paper money soon to be introduced. Counterfeiters
have become more sophisticated, so now must our government. That plan
calls for a redesigned currency every seven to ten years.
Beginning
with the twenty dollar bill such new features as security threads,
color variations, color-shifting ink, watermarks, freedom symbols,
enhanced portraits, and small numbers on the back of the currency
will be added—all to ward off the high-tech capabilities of the
criminal counterfeiter who would rather employ his creative talents
to satisfy his greed than to promote the common good. We have another
name for such people although we don't readily associate them with it
since, when we use this term, it usually conjures up positive instead
of negative images in our minds. We call them stewards.
That's right. Stewards. Managers—only bad ones.
Counterfeiters
aren't, of course, the only bad stewards. Think for a moment about a
few recent stories in the news. First, there was Enron, then,
WorldCom. Next we heard about Martha Stewart. Currently, there is the
Alabama budget fiasco. Finally, who could ignore the ever-present
finger pointing between the Democrats and Republicans regarding the
other's unwise and reckless spending of the taxpayers' hard-earned
money? It seems there is no shortage of bad stewards in the world today.
Then,
there is Peter. In his first letter to the Christians dispersed
throughout Asia Minor he had this to say: "As
each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace"
(1 Peter 4:10—my
emphasis). Fall, as you well know, is the time to address the issue
of stewardship in the church. Why, I don't know. Stewardship
isn't seasonal! Nevertheless, fall has become synonymous with
stewardship. It's an uncomfortable season since the topic of
financial giving must be addressed as we plan the congregational
budget for he coming year.
Stewardship
does involve money, of course. But the concept of stewardship is
really much broader than this. The biblical understanding of
stewardship revolves around the proper management of the various
abilities and gifts God has given each of us for the common good.
That's why Paul could write in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, "Now
there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are
varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of
activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
A
young visitor to St. Matthew told me recently that she had no gifts—no
abilities that could be employed in service to God. I responded that
she did indeed have them—she
just hadn't figured out, yet, what they were. All of us have
something to use in the building of God's kingdom. Stewardship is
about managing well the gifts God has bestowed upon us so that we
will have much to offer in his service.
What
are your gifts? Do you have the ability to make money? I don't have
to tell you (But, I will anyway!)—without
your monetary gifts to the church we would simply shrivel up and
die. No money—no
ministry.
But,
maybe your gifts lay elsewhere. Maybe you are a good reader or
speaker, or an extrovert who enjoys meeting and talking with people.
Maybe you have teaching or administrative skills. Maybe you enjoy
working with your hands. You might be a good handyman (or woman!).
Or, maybe you might better use your hands in the area of artistic
creation. You might possibly be gifted with children or the elderly.
Maybe you have the gift of compassion for others in need. Maybe you
are an introvert and are well suited for reflection and prayer. You
may be gifted musically. You might have the gift of leadership and
could offer yourself as a visionary and motivator. The list could go
on and on.
Whatever
your gifts—and,
most of us have more than one—God
wants you to use them for service in the kingdom. He desires for you
to be a good steward rather than a bad one.
What
are your gifts? May I challenge you this stewardship season to do
something? I want to challenge you to increase your giving to our
congregation. I'm talking about money, obviously. But I'm also
referring to all the other ways in which we can give.
Here's
the challenge. Ready? I challenge you (myself included) to look at
what you have been giving financially over the last year and increase
that amount by one percent. 1%. That's all. Then, I want to challenge
you to look back over your involvement in the life of this
congregation and commit to using your gifts in one way you haven't
yet used them. One way. That's all.
If
each of us did this can you imagine the impact it would have on our
ministry? I would love to find out. Wouldn't you?
Grace
and peace,
Pastor
Larry |
