Stewardship

Sharing of Time, Talent and Treasure

Is a lamp acquired to be put under a bushel basket or hidden under a bed? Is it not meant to be put on a stand, where it gives light to all who see it? (Mark 4:21)

Stewardship as a way of life challenges us to view our resources of time, talent and treasure as gifts from God. As we take care of these gifts, we realize that a true life of Stewardship does not exist in a vacuum. Rather we are asked as God's stewards, we are asked to share our gifts with God and our community.

In our parish and in Sussex County we see extremes of poverty and wealth, abusive homes and happy homes, helplessness and hope. The challenges facing us are monumental and could discourage us if we see only the whole picture. Look more closely, however, and you will see a neighbor who needs transportation to church or to the doctor, an elderly person who needs someone to remove snow from the driveway, a classroom that needs a teacher's aide, a despairing single parent who needs help with the children. God doesn't ask you to solve everything at once, only to take the first step.

As Christian stewards, we are called to reflect God's love in our community. All parishioners, whether young or old have special gifts to share with their faith community. Their gifts of time and talent help the parish as it brings Jesus' healing touch to the world. You will not only be benefiting those in need, you will also be helping yourself, for Jesus promised "give and it will be given to you." (Luke 6:38)

The measure of your own free will offering shall be in the proportion to the blessing the Lord your God has bestowed on you. (Deutoronomy 16:10)

Stewardship is based on the biblical view of God as a Creator of a beautiful garden in which we are placed as caretakers, as stewards of that garden. Each of us is accountable to God for how we use our particular gifts to cultivate the garden during our life on earth.

Remember how Jesus in the parable of the silver pieces (Luke 25:14-30) compared God to a man who went on a journey leaving funds to his servants to invest during his absence. The servants who invested wisely and increased the man's wealth were praised, while the one who simply buried his portion was reproved.

The paradox of Christian living which Jesus proclaimed throughout His ministry, is that the more we give, the more we receive. When we understand how God is calling us to be a loving community of faith - each one of us benefiting from one another's gifts - we respond generously with our own gifts. These gifts are our time, talent and treasure.

Parishes as well as individuals operate in a society that is based on financial trade. That is the reality and whether we are a parish or an individual, we are obligated to be just and wise in the use of finances. We must pay wages, we must pay our bills, we must channel our funds into worthwhile enterprises, and we must help the poor.

We should prayerfully examine what we are doing with the gift of wealth God has given to us. Are we using it wisely, or are we wasting it on things we don't need? What are we doing for our parish financially? Is our financial support what it should be? Has it kept pace with our increased income? Is it proportionate with our ability to give? Is it given with a grateful heart? Most of us give to church and charity from what is left over. Giving out of gratitude, however, means giving to God the first portion of the gifts he entrusts to us. We give more out of our need to give, than the church's need to receive.

When we invest in our parish, we are helping our parish to be a just steward in its own right. When we invest in our worship community we are helping to build the Kingdom of God in the hearts of all people.