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Pastor's June 2010 Message |
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STEWARDSHIP GETS TOP BILLING AT MESSIAH Each month, our new Stewardship Chairman, Vince Howard, submits a Stewardship article for the newsletter. I felt it most appropriate to place that article in the opening slot for the June Newsletter both because it is a good article and because Messiah has identified Stewardship as a major focus for this year. June ...What a Crazy Month! June used to be the most popular month for weddings so much so that “June brides” became a part of our vocabulary. Now there may be months when more weddings take place, but June is still a hectic, busy month. Not only are there weddings, but there are also graduations, vacations, plans for vacations and other summer activities. So much happens that it can get overwhelming and take the joy out of such a special month. The same thing can be true of our lives as God’s stewards. When we start thinking about stewardship as the managing of all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes, we can also get overwhelmed. Stewardship is not just about time, talents and treasure [the well-known three T’s] but also about our stewardship of sharing the good news of Jesus, the building and maintaining of relationships, the care of our bodies, the care of God’s creation, and so much more. The challenge of being a good steward of all that God has entrusted to us can be so big that we might be tempted to simply give up! But, to do so would rob us of some of life’s greatest joys! Stewardship is not meant to be an overwhelming thing but rather the best way to live in this world. People seek purpose and meaning in their lives. They want to make a difference! They want their lives to be bigger than themselves. Being God’s redeemed stewards is one of the best ways for bringing that real meaning and purpose to our lives. It helps us to identify who and whose we are. We are God’s redeemed stewards who have been chosen and equipped to manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes. Can anything be better than that??? Not for people who appreciate the great sacrifice that Jesus made to set us free from our sinful and selfish condition and help us to be the children of God in thoughts, words and actions. St. Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote these words to Titus and us: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” How wonderful it is that by God’s grace we are called, gathered and enlightened to live in a way that gives due glory to God and blessings to our fellow stewards! As God’s children we are in this together so we can encourage others and, in return, be encouraged by others!“God’s redeemed stewards, in cooperation with and encouragement from fellow redeemed stewards, freely and joyfully manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes!” What a blessed life that is!
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