Stewardship is not just an admin function but it is an important spiritual practice to contribute to the ministry of the church and spreading of the gospel of Jesus.
Why do we often overlook the need for finances to run our Churches? God wants us to grow his kingdom, so that comes with a responsibility. Everything we have comes from him, we need to understand and accept that. We are to work alongside him, our hearts in tune and obedient to his call on our lives. That is in all things, not just things we choose or don't cost us anything.
Giving from the heart
“The Lord said to Moses, tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man, whose heart prompts him to give.” Exodus 15:1-2
God wants us to give willingly from the heart. Our giving should never be one of coercion. We are to be willing partakers in the Gospel. When we ask the question, “should we give 10% before tax or 10% after?”, then we should really be challenging if our hearts are right with God. We have all that he gives us, and more. Taking responsibility for funding the Gospel should bring joy in our hearts and the kingdom will grow.
Giving to support ministry
“After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases...These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3
We are here because of the legacy of the women mentioned in Luke 8 and the many followers before us. Historically, believers have funded the Gospel. In this passage we see some women who knew Jesus and had experienced his healing hand in their lives. Out of that gratitude and love for Jesus our saviour, they funded it by their own means. We wouldn’t be a church if they hadn’t set the precedent and left the legacy. The Gospel is available to us now and for others in the future because of the generous hearts of believers who were and are obedient to the call on their lives.
Giving out of poverty
“’...Jesus said, ”truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on”‘ Mark 12:43
We often hold money as our security; putting all our trust in our wealth and ability to pay. The widow here shows a different attitude. She gave out of her poverty; giving all she had left to the Gospel. Her hope was not in the money, as she had nothing left. Her hope was in God and what he would do for her. That is counter cultural, but is an attitude we see so often in the Bible. The widow of Zarrapheth (1 Kings 17) gave all she had left to God. Jesus tells his disciples in Luke “take nothing for the Journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money” it’s clear our trust should be in God's provision. We will not always be called to give all our money but we are all called to give what we are asked or prompted to give through the spirit. We should pray that we are obedient to what is asked of us. Our own insecurity tends to lead our thinking, yet our God is called ‘Jehovah Jireh’ the God who provides. When we are obedient to the call to give, people will see the gospel in action. Walking the walk and talking the talk.
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Cor 9:6-7
We are to die to self and become more like Jesus in our walk. That means letting go of things we often cling to for security. Money is one of those agendas, a worldly way of thinking is different to God's ideal for us. A reluctance to trust in God is not something that brings us in line with God. The discord doesn’t bring us a peace and often can take all the joy form our lives. When we are doing the right thing for God, the peace is evident and will inevitably bring us a joy. Others will see this, and out of that, the Joy in us will rise and the kingdom will grow. The spirit will be alive in us.
I encourage us not to hold back, or get in the way of what God is doing and wants for his people. We are called to win souls for his kingdom. Living in a worldly way and trusting in material things, doesn’t show trust in what we have in our grasp. Instead it shows that we are living in hypocrisy of what we preach and living as the world. What we have in the gospel is different and lifesaving.
As the women did in the early church, we are to invest wholeheartedly in the gospel of Jesus. Living it, funding it and sharing it with others. It’s not about getting the most for our money or getting someone else to pay for it. It’s living for him and through him, showing others the alternative that only Jesus brings through the lives we live.
