Today is the last day of the season where we focus specifically on stewardship. However, if we were to think we stop considering our financial response to God until next year, then I will have failed to do my job. Stewardship is not about me convincing you to give more of your money to the church. As I’ve sought to encourage us, stewardship is about our growing relationship with God, and considering what it is that has a greater hold on us than God.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)
“So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36)
In these passages Jesus promises his followers freedom. The type of freedom that he is talking about is freedom that is both spiritual and tangible. Jesus brings us freedom from sin and its effects. When we fail to trust God completely, we sin, when we put more faith in anything other than God, we sin, when we live lives that are not worshipful and honouring of God, we sin. Jesus brings us transformation by the Holy Spirit where we are led to ways of living that are in keeping with the life that Jesus calls from us. It is a freedom that moves us away from anxiety and doubt and allows us to experience peace and confidence in Christ.
The grace of our God is that he makes heavy demands on us, but at the same time graces us with his strength, his presence, his love and his constant assurance that we will never face anything more than he is capable of supporting us in. It is also the graciousness of God that warns us of ways of living that are not honouring of him, and which draws us back to faithful obedience. Grace is much more than just forgiveness of sin, it is the invitation and the ability to live the life of freedom that Jesus offers to us.
So as we wrap up our stewardship season for this year, please remember that this is an all of life issue that we need to constantly keep under review. In the busyness and complexity of our lives, we can overlook something as essential to our lives as this. We need to be continually asking and assessing the claim that our money and possessions have on us, and through prayer, study and reflection seeking from God if there is anything that is holding us from completely surrendering to him.
As we do this we will grow as disciples and will find the joy and pleasure of being part of God’s plan for our lives. We can experience the threefold blessing of God in our lives, as we grow closer to God; in the church, as it is equipped to do the mission of God; and God himself is blessed as we exalt him with the praise of our money and self.
Please continue to see stewardship as a whole of life matter that is much more than our money.
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