Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for taking care of all the gifts given to us by God. People who believe in stewardship are usually people who believe in one God; our God who created the universe and all that is in our universe – seen and unseen; virtually everything we have: our entire planet and all the people on it, as well as all the animals in our environment – on the land, beneath the land or in the sea and in the air.
Many religions and denominations have various degrees of support for environmental stewardship and loving stewardship of ourselves and “the other” through our community organizations, at our churches and at home and at work outside the home. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a special stewardship when caring for God’s creation – all we do must be done with love.
Christ commands us to love not only our Father, God, but all that is in Creation – ourselves and “the other” – an unconditional love for God and God’s creation and for all the people in it. To do this we must always share what we have been given in Christian Stewardship: lovingly sharing of our time, our talents and our treasure. Sharing what God has given us with not only our family, but with our friends, and neighbors, as well as with “the true other” wherever they are – including the people that do not return our love – even our enemies. This last part – “loving thy enemy” is the hardest part of being a Christian! I guess that’s why those that succeed in Christian love and show it with their stewardship sharing are called saints!
We are made in the image of God. How well we truly reflect that “image” can be measured by how much we love the other and refrain from sin. God wants us to speak all five of God’s “Love Languages” – Smiles, Tears, Touch, Embracing and LOVE – ALL the Acts of Kindness expressed to yourself and to the others in the world.
Hate of the other and the crisis caused by poverty and addiction (hate of self) prevent God’s Christian love from freely flowing. As Christians we do all we can do to bring loving solutions – our Smiles, our sympathetic Tears and Touch, our Embracing by doing all things in LOVE – ALL the Acts of Kindness supported by our common Stewardship.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewardship_(theology)
Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for taking care of the world. People who believe in stewardship are usually people who believe in one God who created the universe and all that are within it, also believing that they must take care of creation and look after it forever. Creation includes animals and the environment. Many religions and denominations have various degrees of support for environmental stewardship. [ citation needed ] It can have political implications, such as in Christian Democracy.
Many moderate and progressive Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Evangelical Protestants see some form of environmentalism as a consequence of stewardship.
In Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions, stewardship refers to the way time, talents, material possessions, or wealth are used or given for the service of God. Some pagan or secular views include a Gaia philosophy which accepts the Earth as a holy being or goddess.
The Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat , or “the New Year of the Trees,” (Rosh Hashanah La-Ilanot”) is also known as Jewish Arbor Day. Some want to expand it to a more global environmental focus. [1] A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.” [2] The central essence of biblical world view stewardship is managing everything God brings into the believer’s life in a manner that honours God and impacts eternity.
Stewardship begins and ends with the understanding of God’s ownership of all:
- “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation
22:13) - “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
- “To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything
in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:14) - “The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and
my tenants.” (Leviticus 25:23) - “Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.”
(Job 41:11)
Stewardship is further supported and sustained theologically on the understanding of God’s holiness as found in such verse as: Genesis 1:2 [1:2] , Psalm 104, Psalm 113, 1 Chronicles 29:10-20, Colossians 1:16, and Revelation 1:8.
There is a strong link between stewardship and environmentalism. What does it mean for humans & to take care of the world? Environmental stewardship is typically thought of as entailing reducing human impacts into the natural world. However, philosopher Neil Paul Cummins claims that humans have a special stewardship role on the planet because through their technology humans are able to save a life from otherwise certain elimination. This is a modern-day interpretation of Noah’s Ark, the cornerstone of human stewardship being technological protection and regulation. [3]
STEWARDSHIP – A Way to Build Our Faith
Christians know that all of our gifts, everything we have in this world, are gifts from God. So when we give back through stewardship, when we share a portion of our time, talents and treasure (our money), we are really facing a test. Do we have enough faith to proceed willingly with our giving knowing that God has already taken care of us? Do we believe that the God who has blessed us (especially in this Country and this Community) will continue to bless and provide for us?
If you, like me, struggle with the idea that God will always take care of you, then sometimes you will feel the urge to hold back your time or your talents. You think: “I don’t have the time to volunteer or to get involved in the church community; I am really busy with lots of other stuff!” But “lots of other stuff” is not what life as a Christian is all about. Whatever time we have on this earth, our life as a Christian, should be a sharing all the blessings of God, the love of Christ, and show to the world the light of Christ in all we do.
In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi (Hebrew for “My Messenger”) at Chapter 3, Verse 10, sets forth a challenge to us: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house and try me in this, says the Lord of Hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon
you without measure?”
Sometimes that level of faith that “God provides” (present tense) is a stretch. Sometimes we think we cannot do it, but if you were meant to do it, God has likely already given you the ways and the means to do it — you must simply claim the blessings you already have and then share a portion of those blessings. Giving builds the faithful community. . . Giving really builds YOUR faith and trust in God. It says in the Bible, “To those that much has been given, much is expected.” A corollary to that is what a friend of mine once said: “The more you give, the more you receive.” I believe that to be true, because I have seen it in action in my life many times.
So this coming year, trust in God and consider giving a little more of your God- given time, talent and treasure to one (or more) of our Community activities or projects. Take note of what happens in your life when you become a brighter light of God’s love shining on those around you and in the world.
Thank you and God bless you and yours!
Joe Powell
STEWARDSHIP – A Way to Give Thanks to God
Why should we be “Christian stewards?” In a word it is really about “GRATITUDE.” As it says in Christopher News Notes #529, “Learning to be grateful is probably one of the earliest lessons we are taught as children. . . . An attitude of gratitude fosters within us to be courteous and kind towards others, but also fosters within us a sense of wonder and appreciation for our own life and the world around us.” We recognize that all of our gifts, everything we have, are gifts from God. These gifts from God are our unique Talents; the Time we are given on earth; and the Treasure we possess. We must recognize that these gifts that we possess are only on loan to us for our time here on earth. More importantly these gifts only realize their full value when they are shared with others through acts of love and charity. As followers of Christ, we cannot ignore the call to give of our Time, Talents, and Treasure to build the Body of Christ. We must each strive to “give according to our means” – to be good stewards not only in how much we give away, but in what we do with all our gifts from God. Please recognize the full value of your gifts of your Time, Talents, and Treasure by sharing them for the benefit of our Parish in 2013. Thank you, and God bless you.
Joe Powell
Finance Secretary
STEWARDSHIP – Sharing our Fruits.
As Christians we believe that everything that we have in this world is given to us by God. Our time here on earth, our talents, and our treasures, are all on loan to us by God. (James 1:17.) Recognizing that our gifts are not really ours, we must be good stewards of these gifts. Being a good steward means sharing our God-given time, talent and treasure with others – especially those less fortunate than us.
One Bible scholar compiled a list of over 50 references to “Stewardship” in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. A review of these verses reveals a few common threads: as part of the body of Christ, we all have been given unique gifts, to be shared with others, and shared in a way that produces “fruit” that grows our love for one another in the here and now.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-13 it says that we must show generosity in giving; sharing our surplus with others when we have it, so that when we are in need, our needs will likewise be met. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 it cautions us that if we “sow sparingly,” we will also “reap sparingly” – and we must give of ourselves and our treasure “without sadness or compulsion, but cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
In the letter of St. James, chapter 1, verse 16-27, he counsels that we must be “doers of the Word,” and not just “hearers of the Word.” In chapter 2:14-26, St. James clearly calls us to back up our good wishes for the other with good works to meet their necessities: “. . . Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
There are three references in the Bible to a fig tree that displeased Jesus by not bearing the fruit that it should give. Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-25; Luke 13:6-9. The fig trees had everything they needed, yet failed to bear any fruit to share with Jesus and His disciples.
So please take a moment to consider all the blessings you have been given from God – the unique talents and treasure that are your “fruit” to share with our community. Shine your unique light and help make our community a more vibrant and loving example of the light of Christ for all to see.
STEWARDSHIP – The Way of a Disciple of Christ
As Bishop John J. McRaith wrote in a 1992 pastoral letter, “Once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option.” Each one of us has received many gifts, all freely given to us by God. These God-given gifts are all based in love, for God is love.
Stewardship is how we nurture our gifts and share those gifts with each other as a living expression of God’s love flowing through us.
Stewardship includes the following:
- Evangelization and witness to the Gospel
- Teaching the Good News and faith formation
- Parent stewardship in the “domestic church”
- Stewardship of simplicity of life
- Stewardship for ecology of the globe
- Lay witness at work and at school
- Stewardship of social justice and the work for peace
- Collaboration in parish life and its many ministries
- Financial accountability in personal and church affairs
Luke tells us, “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.” (Luke 12:48 TEV). “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke
6:38 MSG).
As a good Steward, make a conscious decision to share your many blessings and generously support our Parish ministries with your time, your talent, and your treasure. You will be glad you did.