Stewardship as God would have it may not be consistently taught in the church. Persons are so taken with wealth concepts that when money is the main topic of discussion they shy away from a fully developed understanding of stewardship. The tendency of most people is to avoid any discussion of their personal finances. They are sensitive about it, and feel some threat in any serious treatment of money – more sensitive about their personal finances than the intimate sexual experience of their marriages. We are fairly well informed that money matters are among the most cited causes of problems leading to break-up of marriages – even within marriages that survive. Marriage break-up is often so complicated and personal that it is easy to miss the compounding of negative elements that taken together cause break-up. Money matters make up a main factor in the tragedy of broken families. Money is usually interpreted as the center of stewardship. The church tends to accent the storehouse statement of Scripture – the tithes should be given to the tabernacle. It was the only way at the time. The point of the practical suggestion is to offer a principle that the giver should be careful to account by proof that a percentage of the incoming wealth should be accountable so to offer model to others of that a faithful believer will do for the ministry of God. There is a lesson that since God is faithful to his children (as in providing the manna) so his children will join the system of gifts for divine purpose that assists in providing the evidence of faith. It is related to fulfillment. Stewardship is related to balance for life. It belongs to the order of God in finding balance that appears in the moderation of words in the translation of Scripture. Stewardship is a part of moderation – the best use of time, person, possessions, and all else to find the good life. Giving persons often refer to the joy of giving that enhanced their lives and their realization of what their lives mean, not only to recipients of their gifts but for themselves. Even in serving, they feel served in some mysterious way.
Stewardship was invented by God, as evidence of the human/God (child/parent) relationship of concern for each other to fulfillment of relationship in nature. Stewardship to God is directed toward mankind. We are reminded that God needs nothing from us, absolutely nothing, but accepts our appreciation as worship by the service we offer to others. That service must be first in the dissemination of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is most effective in the support of those who give their whole lives in mission to God as he defines stewardship. The church needs our support, but some churches have lost their way and my gifts to such churches lose the meaning of stewardship to God, so we may give to other missions and programs that serve mankind. That service may seem to be related to the ordinary needs of mankind, perhaps in feeding hungry persons, or finding places for homeless families, or digging a well to denied people, but I want to give to those who credit God for the service, and, to the best of their ability, let the people served feel that the Lord has sent the gift. In this, we raise the offering of whatever sort, to the meaning of the Church (spiritually formed) which is what God means for the church (humanly formed). Stewardship is partly understood in the tithe, in the offering, in the sacrifice. As God blesses us we ought to reach out in the love of Christ. Jesus went to the poor and served them without asking if they believed in his theology. He preached and served anyone who gave the slightest evidence of interest – enough to give ear to what he had to say and do. Our stewardship should be designed to maintain that ministry.
This all suggests that the secret to stewardship is related to time devotion. How much of my work time wage is devoted to the worship of God in ministry, prayer, church, relationships, witness – in what we used to summarize as giving, going and praying? Good stewardship may mean delay in some personal objective, even in giving. Pastors have told some of their people that their burden is too great at the moment and God is no one’s debtor. The proper care of their children is part of their stewardship for now. The goal is so to work that I can document to myself that which gives to the service of God. If genuine in our purpose the opportunity rises that there will be excess over personal needs for ministry. Christians before us sensed that meaning. Stewardship relates to worship, service and faith. Scripture offers a simple measure: 1) Tithe, 2) Time, and 3) Offerings (donor designed) – are measures of stewardship. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020