Stewardship by Sylvia Schmidt, Ministry Assistant

Stewardship

By Sylvia Schmidt, Ministry Assistant

What do you think of when you see that word? Many of us think immediately of money, but it’s more than that. Stewardship is how we live out our calling as followers of Christ. Stewardship is what we do after we say that we believe in Jesus and want to be His disciple.

As a child, my mom used to say we have only three things we can offer God with our love to Him— our talent, time and treasure. Each of these is given to us by God, and each of them should be given back in generous ways. In my childhood home, we were financially very poor but lived a rich life. We lived in a housing project and then with grandparents. Mom prayed daily over us, made sure we had three meals, was active in our school life, knew our friends and made sure we joined her in giving back—whether it was picking up the leaves of our elderly neighbor or walking to church and then to my grandmother’s for Sunday lunch. I saw her give so much of herself that when Jesus took her suddenly to heaven at 42, I was angry with Him. Thankfully, through His grace and mercy, God has helped me see the why she lived like that. She was a disciple for Jesus.

I believe that many Christians love Jesus and call on His name when we need Him. However once one chooses to be a disciple of Jesus, 
grateful stewardship is not an option. Discipleship requires the surrender of ourselves through grace and choice to follow Jesus. We have to make a decision to be both a learner and a companion of Jesus as well as be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit towards a gracious generosity of heart. It’s easy to say, “all I am and possess are gifts and blessings of God to share with others for the sake of the Kingdom of God.” But can we do it?

Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives. Good stewards live with joy and gratitude for the blessings they have received. Good stewards live in communion with Christ and through Christ and attempt to return all gifts to the Father “with an increase.” My mother did, and the joy she had was mighty!

In 1 Peter 4:10, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.” As we walk with God, I ask you to join Nelson and I in asking:
What does it look like to be a disciple for Jesus?
Do I understand that I have to make a conscious and firm decision no matter the cost to myself?
Can I commit myself to Jesus through a change of mind and heart that is most likely seen not in a single action, nor even in a number of actions over a period of time but in an entire way of life?
Do I believe that stewardship is an expression of discipleship, with the power to change how we understand and live out our lives?
I look forward to the journey as we walk together (even stumble at times while helping each other up) as disciples of Jesus who practice stewardship and recognize God as the origin of life, the source of all we have and are and will be.