Good Stewardship Is More Than Money

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

 (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Dear Reader,

          God calls all of to be Good Stewards of God’s Creation. We are called to take care of the plants, the animals, and the ecosystem. We are also called to be good stewards of our relationships and our church homes. As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to give our “first fruits,” or the very best of ourselves to God, but good stewardship is about more than just financial stewardship.

I try my best to give all I can to the church, but somehow it never feels like enough. With my (oftentimes crushing) student loan debt as well as my health problems, my soul is often troubled. Perhaps you can relate. Many of us have children and families to care for, all of us have bills to pay, and a dollar just doesn’t seem to go as far as it once did.

But as followers of Jesus, we are people of the third day of the Easter story. Our story does not end at Good Friday when Christ hung on the cross. It does not end on Saturday when Jesus descended into the realm of the dead. Instead, our story is the Easter Story. When Christ rose on that third day, he set us free from fear and despair. Jesus, that humble carpenter from Nazareth, took on sin and death to set us free. This life is not the end. Instead, it is only a temporary time. But what we do here matters.

This freedom is something we must never forget. It allows our hearts to be joyful. It allows us to not be afraid. It also sets us free to love others.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Nothing on this Earth belongs to us. All things belong to God, who created everything. We are only temporary stewards of the world’s treasures until Christ Comes again. Even if you are in a place in your life when are not to be as financially supportive of the church as you would like, there are still many ways you can be a good steward of all the gifts that God has given to you. Ask yourself: How can I give back to God? What talents do I have that God might be able to use to further his kingdom here on earth?

Be creative with the ways you give back to God! If you sing or play an instrument, offer to provide special music for your local church. If you can write, consider writing an article for your church’s newsletter. If you enjoy working with young people, perhaps God is calling you to be active with your youth group. There are many ways that we can give by donating our time, talents, prayers, and service.

And remember: Even if we don’t have a penny to our name, we can always offer our prayers.

It is my hope that you will hold the universal church and our entire world in prayer this week. I truly believe in the power of prayer.

Until next time-

Peace Be With You,

-Rev. Rebecca

P.S. What are some creative ideas you have regarding good stewardship? Have you ever donated something besides money to the church? Share your ideas in the comment section below! I would love to hear them.

Have more to say? Follow me on Twitter  @BeckieWrites and continue the conversation!