What is Stewardship?

In Sunday School we are considering the topic of stewardship. We are not doing this because we believe we need to increase offerings. We are considering stewardship because this is part of the Christian life. All other religions or worldviews begin with the idea that you are lacking something, and you need to work at being good, or trying your best and then you are rewarded. Christianity is unique in that our God says he gives you everything already in Christ and now by the help of the Holy Spirit we can be generous. We can use our time and money for others because we believe we already have. Quite the difference! One begins with poverty, the other generosity!

Christian stewardship is the faithful management of our financial resources and all we have. It begins with the understanding that all we have is God's (Ps. 24:1 'The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it") and that "we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world" (1Tim 6:7). Since all we have is God's, we should use it for His purposes. God's purpose for us in our lives is expressed in the various vocations, or callings, that we have. So, for example, a father and mother use their income to feed, clothe, and protect their children.

Besides the vocations that each of us have in our family life and in society, we are also all Christians and members of this congregation. How do we use our income faithfully in regard to this vocation? To learn this, we must look to God's Word.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Luke 16:13 Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Malachi 3:8-9 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse -- the whole nation of you-- because you are robbing me.

2 Corinthians 8:7, 9:6-8 But just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us -- see that you also excel in this grace of giving...

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything.

What does this mean?

Your heart always goes where you put God's money. Stewardship is not an optional subcategory of the Christian life; it is the living out of a Christian's dependence on God. As such, faith and finances are inseparable. True joy is found not in storing up the things of this world, for the things of this world won’t last. True joy is found in clinging to Christ who poured out His life for you on the cross and now gives you His Life in Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. The things of this world are temporarily given to us by God to see and we will be called to account for how we manage the Owner’s things.

Rom.14:10-12 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." 12So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Prayerfully Consider Your Giving

During Lent, prayerfully consider your giving to God's work in His church. The church has historically seen Lent as a time to examine one’s life in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Almsgiving is just a fancy word for offering. Alms is money given for the benefit of someone else out of mercy or pity. The giving is not a wage nor deserved. Originally the word alms is translated from the Greek word for "mercy" or "eleos" in Matthew 6:2 when Jesus says, "Thus, when you give to the needy (literally, have mercy), sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others."

Adam and Eve were the first stewards of God’s gifts. We follow in their footsteps by being faithful where the Holy Spirit has called us to serve. Martin Luther has a great saying when considering stewardship in all areas of life, not just money… "'I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I placed in God’s hands, that I still possess."

God grant us wisdom as we ponder the riches given to us in Christ by faith,

2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

See you on Sunday! ... and on Wednesday during Lent.

In Christ,
Pastor Ottmers