"Stewardship." If we're honest with ourselves, when we read or hear this word, we are apt to think "money". This is too bad. Stewardship is not about money. [What'd he say?]
Let's start from this point: Stewardship is NOT about money. If it were, a stewardship campaign would be merely a fund-raising drive. We participate in such drives all the time - for public television/radio stations, service organizations, philanthropic groups, and, yes, even churches like St. Mary's. Nothing wrong with this. Well, then, what's my point? [Yes, do get to the point!]
Consider this: Stewardship is about attitude and action. It defines who we are and what we do. It's not something that only comes around once a year. It's not something we can turn on or off. We ARE stewards always. We are called to ACT as stewards continuously.
A steward is entrusted with the owner's property and is empowered by the owner to act on his behalf and to his benefit. The owner is God. The property is all of creation (including our very selves). Through our baptism, we were empowered, through grace, and charged to use the property with which we have been entrusted to work for the fulfillment of His Kingdom. What are we commissioned to do? "Love one another." "Go forth into the world, making disciples of all nations ." "Feed the poor." "Comfort the afflicted." "Love your enemy." [Awesome.]
Will St. Mary's have a stewardship campaign this year? Yes, we will (October 10th will be Stewardship Sunday). Is it just a fund-raising drive? No, it isn't. It will be a time for us to reflect on our personal and corporate roles as stewards. It will be an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to become better stewards. Do we need to wait until October to do this? No, we don't. We can begin today. [What's he getting at?]
Opening ourselves to the power of God's grace, we cannot help but to respond in joyful giving of our time, our talent, and our treasure. Every day we can ask ourselves two questions: Am I being a good steward? How can I become a better one?
In His Service, Rob Simas Senior Warden
The world promotes a culture of scarcity. Think about it. We're told we don't have the best "thingamajig", or the newest and fastest "whatchamacallit". A common advertising mantra is "buy now! last chance! this offer won't last". People enter a bidding frenzy when they hear "going, going" prior to that last ring of the "gone!" How can one be a "joyful giver" if we buy into the belief that, whatever it is we have, we obviously don't have enough or the best of it? How can we enjoy "the good life" if we're always seeking to catch up with the neighbors?
Our faith promotes a different culture one built on abundance. We are assured that our Father, the Creator and Sustainer of all, will provide for our needs (though not always our wants!). We are urged to count our blessings, not our insufficiencies. We are asked to give (and forgive) unreservedly, for we have been given (and forgiven) much. We are commissioned to "spread the Gospel" not hoard it to ourselves. We are told to have faith, not cynicism; hope, not defeatism; love, not selfishness.
Our response to the call to be stewards is influenced by the culture to which we subscribe. When we are asked to give (consecrate) some of our time, talents, and treasure to the work of the Church, what do we feel? What should we feel? Do we consider our commitment to stewardship as an opportunity for our spiritual growth? How does what we give to others of our time, talent, and treasure compare to that which we keep for ourselves? How should it compare?
We are commanded to love God and one another (our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors in the world). What does this mean? How do we use our gifts of time, talent, and treasure in response to this command? What else could we do if we only tried (if we gave from abundance, not scarcity)? These aren't easy questions to hear or to answer.
Rob Simas Senior Warden
"God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Co. 9:7) We are called to stewardship. How do we respond? Not in what way (time, talent, and treasure), or to what extent (Biblical tithe, life vocation, part-time volunteer work), but with what attitude? In fact, our attitude is an integral part of our stewardship. It's not what we do that's important as much as how we do it.
"What's the minimum I need to do/pay? How can I get out of paying/doing this?" These questions reflect attitudes that view stewardship as some sort of tax or civic duty. How can we be "cheerful" givers if we feel that our giving is something that is required under penalty or is something that we should try to avoid?
"What do I owe? What's my fair share'? What are others paying/doing?" Questions such as these reflect attitudes that our response to stewardship is some sort of membership fee or ticket price. How can one be a "giver" when one isn't really giving so much as paying dues or buying something?
Our response to the call to stewardship should be made neither out of guilt nor fear, making us begrudging or resentful givers. It should not be made in the framework of a mere social contract, taking away not only the opportunity for cheerfulness but also for giving. Love of God and gratitude for His blessings must motivate our response to God's call to work as His stewards in this world. It is only in this way that we can truly become "cheerful givers".
The next time we act on God's call, the next time we commit ourselves to His service, we might want to check our attitude. Loving God and knowing we are beloved by Him motivates an attitude of love. Our response, then, will be that of a cheerful (loving/beloved) giver.
Rob Simas Sr. Warden