Does Your Stewardship Honor God?
By Gloria Garner
April 2010
As a Funds Consultant for KNCSB Women’s Leadership, I try to motivate women in Kansas/Nebraska to give generously to missions and ministry causes in our two states and around the world. I wholeheartedly believe God intends that we be a part of the financial support for His work, through tithes, offerings, and gifts. In this writing, however, I want to focus on some other aspects of stewardship.
Some years ago I was talking with a friend and the word “stewardship” entered our conversation. My friend said, “That’s about tithing – right?” I replied that indeed tithing is a part of stewardship, but it includes much more, and involves more than finances. Too often, it seems, we consider our stewardship to only be about our checkbooks!
Time, talent, ambition, ability, influence, intellect, energy – these are some of the areas with which God blesses His people, and when God blesses His people He expects something in return. Jesus speaking in Luke 12:48b says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. “ This portion of Scripture deals with obedience and faithfulness to responsibility. What areas of responsibility has God placed in your sphere of influence?
For many people in today’s world, time is a most precious commodity, and though we are all given the same amount, none of us seem to have enough. Does your day include some time for God – time just with Him, shutting out everything else? Making time for Him seems to enable us to make the best use of the rest of our day.
Do you honor God with the talents and abilities He has given you? How about the influence you have with friends and acquaintances? Are your abilities, skills, and energy used in ways that bring glory to Him? In I Corinthians 10:31, Paul says things as simple as everyday activities can be used to honor God. We read, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all [emphasis mine] to the glory of God.” There is nothing in your life that does not concern God, and He rightfully expects to be part of it all.
Sometimes we get the mistaken idea that only those in “full-time Christian service” i.e. pastors and missionaries, are expected to commit their entire being to God. We may have a different calling, but our commitment should be no less, because the price for our redemption was the same. There is no place in Scripture that says we give God 10% of our earnings and then go about every other part of our lives as we please. In the apostle Peter’s first letter he reminds us of what our having a relationship with God cost – “….knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold …. but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ,” I Peter 1:18-19. Does your stewardship give testimony of whose you are?
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