Church Humor (from The Daily Dilly, 1/6/03) as cited at http://bible.christianity.com/SermonHelps/11546199/
“Here are some comments you’ll probably never hear at church:
1.Hey! It’s my turn to sit in the front pew.
2.I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.
3.Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.
4.I’ve decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.
5.I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.
6.I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard before!
7.Since we’re all here, let’s start the service early.
8.Pastor, we’d like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.
9.Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign! “
When people hear the word STEWARDSHIP they begin checking out! I’ve learned after twenty plus years of church leadership that there are two things people don’t want to talk about or touch – family and finances. Before you start checking your blackberries or text messages, take a moment to explore with me the question that helps us understand that stewardship goes beyond finances.
What is a Steward?
Stew•ard (st rd, sty -) n.
- One who manages another’s property, finances, or other affairs (dictionary.com)
I am fascinated with the definition provided by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers – I quote in part:“Stewardship:
•is a commitment to responsible resource development that all CAPP members uphold.
•drives the belief that good is never good enough.
•promotes the development of best practices...”
http://www.capp.ca/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=5
Sounds like something the Church should post around its buildings, at least the key words like commitment, drives, and development. Stewardship is God’s invitation to us to experience freedom rather than live as slaves. Are you ready to take a journey of faith and liberation? Will you embrace the invitation to join the “Full Life” Investor’s Group – to experience the fullness of investing God’s resources that he entrusted to you?
We experience “full life” when we practice stewardship. To practice stewardship we must understand that Stewardship is totally about relationships.
God invites us to recognize several “Full life” principles that, if embraced, will change the way we look at life and the way we respond to life.
“Full life” principle #1:
Stewardship understands that God owns everything I have.
Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.”
- Stewardship represents our God-given privilege to be in management – God’s property, finances and affairs
- Stewardship is not only about money. It digs deeper to commitment, contribution, community and calling to the world, which we will consider in Romans 12.
- What would change if we all sat at our computers, made a list of the time, talents and treasures we have and we asked one question: What’s the best way I can put God’s resources to work for him since he trusted me with these resources?
The theme of Romans 12 is STEWARDSHIP– the header “living sacrifices” is the summation of stewardship. It is the understanding that my very existence, possessions and response to life, is mine for the sole purpose of honoring God in every aspect of that existence and possession. I said earlier that stewardship is God’s invitation to us to experience freedom rather than live like slaves. For instance, we are terribly materialistic. Channel surfing this week – 7 or 9 shows on product promotion – from get rich quick schemes to the CD kit that will tone your body and turn heads. When God is not front-row-center in our lives, we become slaves to an empty life that does not seem to have any specific meaning or purpose (temporality) – live in the NOW and plan for the THEN. (Not bad per se but only a problem when God is not front-row-center in the planning).
How do we get to the reality of “living sacrifices” or STEWARDSHIP EXTRADIONAIRE? Paul breaks it down for us. Stewardship understands that God owns everything we have.
“Full Life” principle 2:
2. Stewardship practices reflect the extent that God owns me.
“Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation spends millions of dollars regularly since 1999 on television and other forms of media advertising offering the free book, “Power for Living”. Non-denominational pastor and author Jamie Buckingham wrote the book. DeMoss’ business reached half a billion dollars in assets. An economic recession resulted in Arthur’s stock plummeting so that he was losing $3 million per day, and lost $360 million dollars in four months. Citing one source, “The story tells that rather than becoming devastated and decreasing his gifts to God, Arthur increased his giving on every front. When asked why he did this he said, “The Lord gave me everything I have. It all belongs to Him and if he wants to take it away that’s His business. I don’t lose any sleep. I still have a wonderful family. I will do anything God wants me to do. If He takes away everything He has entrusted to me and calls me to the mission field, I’m ready to go. All He needs to do is tell me.”
Paul begins the chapter by emphasizing the subject of relationship with God and to God.
- 12:1 “And so" (some translations: "therefore")– suggesting these comments in light of the earlier ones offered – Chapter 11 – speaks of God’s mercy for everyone, ending with verses 35-36…
WORSHIP or RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD is the anchor to stewardship, the anchor to “Full Life”.
- “…give your bodies to God…” “Body” comes from the Greek word soma meaning physical body. That relationship takes us beyond an ideal to an obsession. We don’t speak the principle – we live the life!
- “…a living and holy sacrifice…” – Paul could have been drawing on O.T. imagery or even the crucifixion of Jesus. The intensity of sacrifice suggests that commitment of this type is rooted in intimate relationship. While none of us here have been called to die physically for Christ and the defense of the gospel, we are called to the process of Christ’s Passion in that God invites us to lay aside our own preferences for His preferences; God invites us to ‘die’ to what we want preferring what He wants. The Bible calls it being ‘raised’ to new life, (Romans 6:1-4) new purpose, new direction. When I choose to embrace God’s mind, God’s desires, and God’s priorities it is then I gain the experience of being a “living and holy sacrifice” and experience freedom instead of living as a slave. The depth of my relationship with God determines my response to this invitation.
- To ‘give’ and ‘live’ we need to pay attention to verse 2…
- The world is not a reference to planet earth. It speaks “of the natural habits, desires, and value judgments of the natural {person}, the natural {person} being {a person} apart from the loving guidance of {their} Maker.” (Coffman’s Commentary)
How do we avoid the trap of conforming to the world?
- “…by changing the way you think…” – here is the seat of all imaginations and decisions. If we can learn the discipline of redirecting the intentions and motivations of the mind, we can change our behaviour. We lead our bodies by the intentions of our minds. It’s like sitting on the sofa and you’re watching your favorite television programs. You have Lay’s chips and Hershey’s chocolate. The pizza and wings will arrive in 10 minutes, and the Rocky-road ice cream or cherry cheesecake or the rich and delicious chocolate cake is standing by! You sit before this mountain of mouth-watering, scrupulous food (although unhealthy – but good!) and you say to the person sitting next to you, “I have to be more careful about what I eat – starting tomorrow.” Problem is, tomorrow is always another day away! Until the mind catches up, the over-indulging will never slow down.
The more God owns us the more intentional we are about changing the way we think and as a result, the way we behave! I want to be so completely God’s property that my only priority is to ‘give’ and ‘live’ so that my life and priorities turn everyone’s attention to God! If that is your thirst-cry for freedom, give God a hand of praise!
Stewardship understands that God owns everything I have
Stewardship practices reflect the extent that God owns me
“Full Life” principle 3 says,
Stewardship is concerned about how I relate to you
While recognizing our modest place in the body of Christ, we offer our personal contribution according to God’s design for us, as outlined in Romans 12:3-13:
- Honest evaluation of ourselves and how we contribute to the whole body (3)
- We belong to each other (4)
- Different gifts for the purpose of doing things well (5) – some examples offered in verses 7-8
- Paul summarizes all of this in verses 9-13…
The Stewardship minded are concerned when ministry lacks leadership. It is concerned that spiritual gifts, given to help Christ’s body, are lying dead inside someone’s heart. It is concerned about deficit. It is concerned about not using its resources to go beyond its own walls. And here’s the clincher – it is not only concerned about what it sees. It says, “What is my responsibility in responding to what I see and know?”
Stewardship understands that God owns everything I have
Stewardship practices reflect the extent that God owns me
Stewardship is concerned about how I relate to you
“Full Life” principle 4:
Stewardship is concerned about how I relate to the world
- Verses 14-19…
- As if the church’s relationships is not a difficult enough challenge, the test of our love for God is discovered in the treatment of our enemies – verses 20-21…
“You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads…”
I read a story of a woman involved in bitter fighting with her husband. Seeking professional help she was asked by the counselor, "Have you tried heaping coals of fire on his head?" to which she responded, “No, but I tried a skillet of hot grease!"
While the interpretations seem to have been lost on this statement, one of the most plausible offered suggest that “this may refer to an Egyptian tradition of carrying a pan of burning charcoal on one’s head as a public act of repentance. By referring to this proverb, Paul was saying that we should treat our enemies with kindness so that they will become ashamed and turn from their sins. The best way to get rid of enemies is to turn them into friends.” (Life Application Bible)
Co-authors John Ortbert, Laurie Pederson and Judson Poling write in “Giving: Unlocking the Heart of Good Stewardship” – “Ultimately, good stewardship is not a matter of wise money management or even responsible giving. It is a matter of extravagant love. Have you taken in the love of Christ extravagantly poured out for you? Has it left your heart so filled with gratitude that you can’t help but lavishly pour it out in return? Is his love transforming your prayers from “Give me Lord” to “Use me Lord – all that I am and all that I hold dear”?”
WRAP
Stewardship understands that God owns everything I have
Stewardship reflects the extent that God owns me
Stewardship is concerned about how I relate to each you
Stewardship is concerned about how I relate to the world
Stewardship Covenant
Acknowledging that God owns everything I have, AND
Realizing that stewardship speaks of my relationship with God AND
Believing that stewardship requires commitment to God’s will for me,
I COVENANT WITH GOD THAT
I will pursue Him always in my mind, attitude and purpose
I will seek to manage my relationships, gifts and resources in response to the knowledge that He gave me these for His glory.
I will strive to share God’s message of hope and Good News to people who need the truth by living that truth in all aspects of my life.
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