Pastor's Pen - November 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

November has long been the month for stewardship emphasis in the Church. Perhaps this relationship was begun when the Church was more rural in its make-up and this was a time following the harvest when people would be making plans and commitments for the coming year. It also may have bee the result of a link between giving potential and the budget for the coming year. Whatever the case, it is fair to say that the Church has given less consideration to what it means to be a steward of God's dominion than it should have throughout the generations.

 

For many individuals stewardship has become the new "four letter" word in the life of the Church. All of us know or have known someone whose first complaint has been that the Church only talks about money. Certainly since the days when giving was reported as an item of information for the whole congregation, there has been a clear sense that money and giving in concrete terms are not to be discussed aloud. Despite these commonly held notions it is time for the Church to lift up stewardship to its place of importance once again.

 

Jesus spoke more about money than any other single topic. He knew very well its power and its potential for both good and evil. Jesus was more honest and forthright about this world than we tend to be. Jesus makes it very clear that God is not simply interested in that which we give for charitable cause any more than God is only interested in our time used to help others. God has a vested interest in all that we are an in all that we have and how we use those gifts that God has so freely and generously given.

 

In the world around us gifts are often given on the basis of what others have given and how we measure up. There it is said that we should give until it hurts. In the life of faith our giving is only measured in comparison to God's generosity and to no one else. In the life of faith as a response to what God has done for and continues to do for us in the risen Savior, we are invited and encouraged to give until it feels good. When it feels good we know that we have given beyond guilt and given in thankfulness and praise not in an effort to be judged better than, more worthy than, or more important than anyone else.

 

November may be a good time to be reminded of stewardship with the end of the year so quickly approaching. But at the same time it is important for us to be aware of our stewardship in every month and in every season as we share all of the gifts that God has so freely given to us, the gifts of  self, of time, of talents, and of treasures.