THE SEASONS OF STEWARDSHIP Monthly Stewardship

Thoughts

Ernest D. Standerfer

Stewardship is not seasonal in the sense thatit is to be mentioned only at prescribedtimes. It is both appropriate and neededthroughout the year. Stewardship is indeed atruth for all seasons. God made us stewards,managers. Managing life and resources forGod is a year-round opportunity and respon-sibility. While it is necessary to focus moreintensely on subjects or emphases at certaintimes, many people may be more open tostewardship truths as they are presentedthroughout the year. The following steward-ship thoughts may jump-start a longer pre-sentation, provide pre-offertory thoughts inworship, or be appropriately placed in thechurch newsletter or bulletin.

JanuaryThe First Month, the First Day1 Corinthians 16:2Resolutions or not, there is a sense of begin-ning again in this first month of the year.That’s good. We could let the weeks passwithout much thought, but we need times toreflect and look ahead.

The Scriptures do not speak about the sig-nificance of the first month, but they dofocus on the importance of worship on thefirst day of the week, the Lord’s Day. Pauladvised the Corinthians to prepare for givingto the special opportunity he was encourag-ing. “On the first day of every week, eachone of you should set aside a sum of moneyin keeping with his income.”

This first month of the new year providesa marvelous opportunity to begin giving onthe first day of the week through yourchurch. That would be an important step anda blessing to you and your church. If youpresently give regularly on the Lord’s Day,

thank the Lord for working that convictioninto your heart. In this first month, makeHim first, and resolve to give on the firstday.

FebruaryGenuine Love, Genuine Giving2 Corinthians 8:8You can give without loving, but you cannotlove without giving. While not a new state-ment, this still merits our consideration.Genuine, sincere love involves giving, andgiving expresses our love. John wrote, “ForGod so loved the world, that he gave. . . .”We have numerous opportunities to givetime, energies, and money through ourchurch. Paul confessed to the Corinthianchurch that he wanted “to test the sincerityof your love.”

We are not members of the Corinthian con-gregation, but Paul’s counsel still is wise. Ifwe love God, love our church, and love thenew life we have in Christ, we will give. Ifgenuine love motivates our giving, we willgive like God—our best.

What is shaping your giving? Are othermotivations, less biblical and inspiring,determining your giving pattern? Let givingbe a primary means of expressing the sinceri-ty of your love.

MarchWhen the Spirit Moves Acts 4:31-32March winds are part of our normal weatherpattern. We anticipate spring. We fly kites. Anew season is “blowing in.” How thankfulwe are when we sense the Spirit of Godmoving among us like a refreshing wind.

The early church experienced it, and Luke

recorded it in Acts 4:31-32 (NIV): “After theyprayed, the place where they were meetingwas shaken. And they were all filled with theHoly Spirit and spoke the word of God bold-ly. All the believers were one in heart andmind. No one claimed that any of his posses-sions was his own, but they shared every-thing they had.”

When we recognize God’s ownership of allwe have, pray and witness boldly, and sensea desire to minister to others through giving,be assured: the wind of the Spirit is movingin us. May the breezes of spring come, andmay the Spirit of God bring spiritual refresh-ing to our life and church.

AprilLoving Money 1 Timothy 6:6-10What do you think about genetic research?We have already developed the ability to dothings we only imagined a few years ago.One lingering fear of this research isexpressed in the oft-repeated statement,“Someday someone will create a monster,”meaning that the research could becomedetrimental to humankind rather than makea positive contribution.

The Bible affirms love—the love of God,for God, and for others—as perhaps thegreatest attribute of God and His children.What about loving money? Think of all thehospitals, church ministries, and missionefforts made possible by the giving ofmoney.

But to love money is to “create a monster,”an attitude, a way of life that holds nopromise for good. Holy Scripture counsels,“People who want to get rich fall into temp-tation and a trap and into many foolish andharmful desires that plunge men into ruinand destruction. For the love of money is aroot of all kinds of evil. Some people, eagerfor money, have wandered from the faithand pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:9-10, NIV).

Let us love God supremely and use moneyto help people and honor the Lord.

MayHappiness Is . . . ? Acts 20:33-35This month is a happy one for many.Graduation has come at last; the summervacation is just ahead; and the weather ismuch more pleasant. All of these marks of

the season we anticipate and enjoy. While enjoying the benefits of the season,

note that the apostle Paul pointed to oneway we can experience happiness all yearlong. “Remembering the words the LordJesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to givethan to receive’” (Acts 20:35, NIV).

Other translations make it even clearer. “Itmakes one happier to give than to get” (Acts20:35, Williams).1

“More blessings come from giving thanreceiving” (Acts 20:35, CEV).2

These words are not to be taken casually.“It is more blessed to give than to receive”are the words of the living Christ. They’retrue. Happiness is giving—giving yourself toserve others in Jesus’ name and giving yourfinancial resources through your church tohelp others know the kind of happiness thatonly the Lord Jesus makes possible.

JuneStanding Tall Luke 19:1-10Memories of early Vacation Bible Schoolsinclude both the story and song aboutZacchaeus—“a wee little man was he.” Biblestudents remember that Zacchaeus had got-ten wealthy at the expense of others. Andeven more, we remember that Zacchaeuswas a short man and had to climb a tree toget a glimpse of Jesus. But later, after Jesusspent time with him, Zacchaeus stood tall.This is not to suggest that he grew physical-ly, but we admire and rejoice in his change ofattitude, his spiritual growth and commit-ment. He said, “Look, Lord! Here and now Igive half of my possessions to the poor, andif I have cheated anybody out of anything, Iwill pay back four times the amount” (Luke19:8, NIV).

Whatever our physical disadvantages maybe, we can stand tall in our willingness andcommitment to give. What was Jesus’response to Zacchaeus? “Today salvation hascome to this house” (Luke 19:9, NIV).

JulyWhen the Time Is RightJohn 12:1-8Some of you are enjoying the seasonalopportunity to “grill out” and fix specialmeals that you enjoy. This summer manychurches have special homecoming servicesthat usually involve “dinner on the grounds”where the favorite dishes from all the good

cooks in the church are sampled. The Gospel writers tell us about a special

dinner “in Jesus’ honor” (John 12:2, NIV).The food was good, I’m sure, but what madethe occasion extra special was somethingunusual that happened. Mary, one of thehosts, poured “expensive perfume . . . onJesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair”(John 12:3, NIV). The disciples objected andthought it wasteful, but Jesus replied, “Leaveher alone” (John 12:7, NIV). Why? Why didshe do this? Why did Jesus give Hisapproval? Why? Because He knew that thisrepresented her desire to give Him her verybest. Her purpose was not to make a scenebut simply to express her devotion to Christ.

The time is always right when we commitour best to the Lord Jesus. Will you giveyour very best to the One who gave all foryou?

AugustCamping Out Genesis 28:16-22Do you enjoy camping out? Many people do.Some invest in expensive equipment so thatthey can enjoy the outdoors and have somecomforts of home at the same time.

One of the early Bible personalities, Jacob,had a unique “camping out” experience. Ashe was running from home, nighttime came,and he stopped to rest. Having no campingequipment, he took a stone, “put it under hishead and lay down to sleep” (Gen. 28:11,NIV). During the night God spoke to himthrough a dramatic dream. When he awoke,he confessed, “Surely the LORD is in thisplace” (Gen. 28:16, NIV). He took his “pil-low,” the stone, and used it as a place ofworship. Then Jacob made a promise to God:“Of all that you give me, I will give you atenth” (Gen. 28:22, NIV).

Isn’t it marvelous that God can speak to uswherever we are? Outside under the stars orin a quiet place—wherever, we can pray, lis-ten, and make commitments that honor theLord. Even a commitment to give a tenth ofour income to the Lord.

SeptemberBack to School Malachi 3:8-10We’re in the beginning of “back to school”days. Administrators, teachers, parents, andstudents are doing those things needed for aproductive and enjoyable year.

The prophet Malachi would understandthe back-to-school feeling. He called Israelback, not to school, but to God; but therewere important truths he wanted them toremember and practice. The truths were notnew. The people had forgotten them or putthem aside, thinking they were unimportant.Malachi knew they were essential in relatingto God.

One of those truths focused on giving. “Ithe LORD do not change. . . . Return to me,and I will return to you. . . . Bring the wholetithe into the storehouse. . . . Test me in this .. . and see if I will not throw open the flood-gates of heaven and pour out so much bless-ing that you will not have room enough forit” (Mal. 3:6-7, 10-11, NIV).

Do you need to return to this truth thatGod wants you to know and practice? Beginnow to give a tithe of your income to Godthrough your church. You will be learningand living as God instructs us. He will bepleased, and you will be blessed.

OctoberOpportunity! Philippians 4:10Though asserting that God would take careof him, the apostle Paul “rejoiced greatly” forthe generosity and concern of the Philippiancongregation for him. He cited a new oppor-tunity as the reason they could express againtheir long-lasting concern for him.

A Christian lady shared her regret that sheonce had an opportunity to give to the Lordmuch more than she presently could, but shelet the opportunity pass. Now she planned touse her present opportunity to give all shecould. “I love Him too much to do less.”

Opportunity missed often brings regret.Opportunity taken brings relief. What oppor-tunities are available to you to express yourChristian concern? What opportunities togive generously do you have to provide min-istries to others? Maybe the best opportunityyou will ever have to give is now. Seizingyour opportunity will enable others to rejoicegreatly and provide you with a sense of hav-ing the wisdom and the insight to see theopportunity God has given you.

NovemberTruly Thankful Deuteronomy 8:10-18I enjoy the time of thanksgiving worshipwhen the congregation joins in singing,

Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home!

All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied:

Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home.

—Henry Alford

As appropriate as that is, could it bedeceiving? We can enjoy the congregationalfeeling and singing but miss the importanceof being truly thankful.

Moses reminded Israel, “When you haveeaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD yourGod for the good land he has given you. Becareful that you do not forget the LORD yourGod, failing to observe his commands . . . Butremember the LORD your God, for it is hewho gives you the ability to produce wealth”(Deut. 8:10-11,18, NIV). If we are thankful, wemay sing, but we will certainly adhere toGod’s teachings and remember that God isthe Source of our strength, our skills, and ourmaterial blessings.

DecemberGod Has Given You a Gift 2 Corinthians 8:9“Do we have to buy her a present? Him,too?”

“You don’t need to get him/her a realexpensive gift.”

“Well, they gave me a gift last year.”Have you heard any of those comments

during the Christmas season? Our motivesfor buying some gifts may be based on cour-tesy, duty, or tradition—all of which may notbe bad but certainly fall short of motivessuch as love or “because I want to.”Sometimes we may not be sure what ourmotives are; we just think we have to give agift.

The Bible makes clear that Christ’s motivefor giving Himself to and for us was that we“might become rich.” The gift has beengiven—verified in history, recorded clearlyby all the Gospel writers, and experienced bymultitudes of believers. God gave His Son,who willingly gave Himself for us. Hismotive: that we might become rich—rich infaith, rich in Christ, rich in hope, rich in eter-nal life, and rich in love. There is only oneexplanation for such giving: grace, unearnedand undeserved love of God for us. What agift!

—————1 From the Williams New Testament, The New

Testament in the Language of the People, by Charles B.Williams. Copyright © 1937, 1966, 1986 by Holman BiblePublishers. Used by permission.

2 Scripture quotations identified as CEV are taken fromthe Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991,1992, 1995 American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Ernest D. Standerfer is pastor of Valley ViewBaptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.

LW