Stewardship

“As stewards we are freed from the attitude of scarcity to live in the abundance of God. We experience the joy of giving as we respond to God’s call to live as faithful stewards.”

Stewardship Message - May Roadrunner

It’s not even May yet and it’s getting toasty.  The signs are there.  The winter visitors are headed back to where summers are a bit cooler (even if they may be more humid) than in Tucson.  Anyone who does any gardening knows that additional steps need to be taken to assure an ample supply of blooms or produce. One of the main steps is additional water.

Water here in the desert is basic. Without it, everything perishes. Here in Tucson, we really try to conserve water: there is the “Beat The Peak” program, rebates for water saving toilets, and fines for water wasters who allow sprinklers to “wash” into the streets. With water being such a precious commodity, we all try to be good stewards.

Here at Our Saviour’s, we have multiple “good steward” ministries. Long ago we got rid of the grass and installed low water use plants. Most recently a ministry crew began working on retro fitting lighting to conserve electricity and reduce our electric bills. All of us owe a huge thank you to Dick Collins and his handyman crew for all the hours they spend on our campus to keep things running smoothly, efficiently, and as cost effectively as possible.

What is basic here at Our Saviour’s is the ability to facilitate the individual’s experience with the Triune God through worship, education, fellowship and outreach. As “facilitators” each and every one of us should do our utmost to achieve this result. That may sound pretty business-like and not really what many of us are interested in hearing in a stewardship article. But Jesus was a master facilitator, at taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. He took a child’s lunch and fed thousands. He warmed the heart of a tax collector. He took that ordinary, but most precious, water and turned it into the best wine the wedding steward had ever tasted. He offered his life, ordinary but yet so precious and extraordinary, for you and for me. His ability to facilitate the experience changed history.

How can we be good stewards? Well, for one thing we can BOGO (buy one, get one), keeping one and giving one to the church, or community food bank, the list is endless.  Volunteer your time. Here at Our Saviour’s, we have a staggering list of ministry options. One or more just has to be right for you. GIVE. While we appreciate all who generously give, those who offer a pledged commitment really provide the basis for our budget. You all know from your own personal finances how difficult it is to be able to prepare and live within a budget if you do not know how much your income will be. Don’t get me wrong, faithful stewardship giving is not the same as paying dues! Faithful stewardship giving comes from the commitment made in the heart. It comes from the joy of being blessed by God. God gives to us in abundance, far more than we can ever need. We are blessed so we can be a blessing to others.

Here in the Tucson desert, we give thanks daily for the water that flows from the tap; but here at Our Saviour’s we give thanks daily for the living water that flows from God. It’s really wonderful to go with the flow!

By Betsy Boorse, StewardShip Team

Top Ten Stewardship Verses:

 

# 1: Matthew 25:13-40 “Where have you been hiding your money lately?” The parable of the ten talents emphasizes that we are all stewards, no matter how little or how much God has entrusted us with. As stewards, how we spend, save, and share our money matters to God.

# 2: Luke 10:25-37 “Yes, your neighbor includes that random naked guy” The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that we, as stewards of God’s world, are called to care for all creation, including our neighbors. Good stewards recklessly give of themselves to their neighbor and in doing so model God’s love for all creation.

# 3: Matthew 6:21 (Luke 12:34) “Burying your treasure in the clouds” Where you put your money takes your heart with it. “The point isn’t that how we spend our money reveals what sort of people we are, but that how we spend money determines what sort of people we become.” (Giving to God, Mark Allan Powell, Robert and Phyllis Leatherman professor of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary)

# 4: Luke 21:1-4 (Mark 12:41-44) “Two coins makes all the difference” Jesus commends the widow for giving all that she had to live on. As stewards we are called to give our whole life—time, talent and treasure—to God. We are also called to create sustainable systems of giving so that the rich do not prosper at the expense of the poor. Stewardship is for everyone, the rich and the poor.

# 5: Luke 19:1-10 “So money does grow on trees” Stewardship is, first and foremost, about relationships. Zacchaeus’ relationship with his possessions, and by consequence his relationship with others, is affected by Jesus’ initiation of a relationship with him. Through our relationship with Jesus we are changed; our relationship with Jesus ignites within us a desire to use our possessions responsibly to meet the needs of others.

# 6: 2 Corinthians 9 “Reaping, sowing and your pearly whites” God provides all that we need and we give in response to God’s provision. God desires intentional gifts that can be freely given with a smile. As we give we not only meet the needs of others but we also give thanks to God.

# 7: Genesis 1-2:4, especially 1:26-27, 31. “Who do you see when you look in the mirror?” Stewardship originates from the creation story. In this story, God impresses God’s own image upon humanity and charges humanity to care for all creation. God is the maker of all things and we are called to be responsible stewards of God’s creation.

# 8: Luke 18:18-27, especially 18:25 (Mark 10:17-22) “Let’s hope that camel has been on a diet” Stewardship is a matter of the heart. Our possessions often interfere with our relationship with God, steering our focus from creator to creation. Although wealth brings many privileges and benefits, Jesus cautions his followers to beware of wealth’s power to lure their hearts away from God.

# 9: Micah 6:8 “Three steps to the good life” The focus of stewardship is not our money or our possessions, but rather the attitude of our heart. The attitudes of justice, kindness and humility shape the way we view, use and give our money and possessions.

# 10: 2 Corinthians 8 “Anything you can do I can do better” Generosity is not circumstantial and giving is a privilege. In this passage, Paul uses the story of the Macedonians’ abundant generosity in the face of trial to encourage the Corinthians to give generously.