Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/76

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - The Way of a Steward

Topic - Stewardship

We in the Church frequently divide the world of men into two categories, the believer and the unbeliever. It becomes an "us vs. them" kind of philosophy. I am going to suggest a different division: between the thankful and the thankless, between the person who sees his life and all that he has as gifts from a gracious God and the one who feels that it belongs to him, to nobody else, and no one is going to tell him how to manage it. When such a person is confronted with the challenge to give something of his life, or his time, or his material possessions to the church, he might well respond: "Why should I? It's mine, isn't it? I worked for it, I earned it. No one is going to tell me how much to give, or even that I have to give at all."

Hopefully the Christian will have a different approach. We share the conviction that what we have, and are, has been given us by God. He is the Creator and sustainer of the world and its life. Without his gracious will none of it would endure. Moreover, he placed man in the world to take charge, to use, to administer, and to be accountable for its use . . . to be accountable to God. Life lived this way is the way -of the steward.

What is stewardship, anyway? I would like to define it as the thankful acceptance and responsible use of life and all God's gifts. Stewardship recognizes that God is the Giver, man the user and manager. When you borrow a friend's costly tool, you will use it carefully, won't you? That is stewardship of your friend's equipment. God has placed you in charge of a great area, really. He has given you life, a measure of time, an assortment of talents and abilities. How you use them is your responsibility, and God will hold you accountable. God has given you tools in life far beyond the value of the best drill or power convenience you could buy or borrow.

For many people the terms "tithing" and "stewardship" are one and the same. To be accurate about it, there is a distinction. Stewardship involves the use of all of life, tithing is giving to God a tenth of what he has given us in terms of money. When tithing becomes an expression of the way of the steward, then it is closely related to stewardship as a life principle.

A steward will be a good manager of money, as one of the gifts, or blessings, God gives. the priorities will show here, and show emphatically. The tither sets aside his tenth as a contribution, and with tithing (as virtually all who practice it will testify) comes a better administration of' money and one's money seems to "manage" better. Probably because his sense of values and priorities enables him to make good use of it.

How important is this part of stewardship? The Bible teaches that it is essential. Haggai, the prophet who lived in very tough times has a message that sounds contemporary. "Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes." (Haggai 1 :5, 6).

What an apt description of inflation, and what it has done to our economy. One of the causes of inflation, certainly, is the competition in the market place for more and more goods, for more and more money to buy them, and for more and more use of credit when cash money is not readily available. One day the bills come due ' '... and all of the postponing and all of the "minimum payments required" will not change it.

But stewardship is more than just the use and management of one's money. Stewardship is the way one uses, no, lives his life. It is the priority system in evidence. Jesus taught this very plainly: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well" (Matthew 6 : 31)

Your obligation, and privilege, as a Christian steward have not been discharged when you've put something (even though it be generous indeed) in the offering plate on Sunday. It isn't that simple nor, that restricted. Stewardship s involvement of your life in your the whole program of God's kingdom. Stewardship is the dedication of your life to God, for the benefit of his kingdom and your fellow men. Stewardship is the development of your talents and skills, not merely for selfish gain, but for the service and benefit of mankind.

Stewardship is the thankful way of life. It is also the life freed from anxiety. Trust has taken its place. With trust in God, and acceptance of his provision there comes still another blessing: contentment. When you are thankful and content, you will do a better job in your life and your work, and you'll be a nicer person to, live with.

Thanksgiving Day comes this month. Let it not be just a day, but rather let it be a way of life every day.

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