“Stewardship as a Spiritual Practice”

   

            We continue our three-week exploration of the Christian concept of stewardship this Sunday (October 20th) at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln.  In our reflections, we have defined stewardship as the role and task of caring for those gifts, with which God has blessed us.

            This Sunday, we will focus on stewardship as a spiritual practice.  The story of the “Widow’s Offering” in Mark 12: 41-44, will form our foundational scriptural text. 

            In this story, Jesus and his disciples visit the great Temple in Jerusalem.  In the Temple, they go to the “Court of the Women” where the Temple treasury is located.  It is at the Treasury that people stop to make their financial offerings to God by dropping their contributions in one of 13 treasury chests, called Shofars. 

            Jesus and his disciples sit down, across from where the Shofar-chests are located.  This was usually a good place for people watching.  Frequently, rich members of society would make a grand show as they deposited large sums of money.  However, as the various people came and deposited their offerings, a poor widow meekly crept up to the treasury and deposited two small copper coins, which together were worth about one penny.  Two such coins were practically worthless in the economy.

            However, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.”

            We can imagine that Jesus’ disciples were initially perplexed by his observation.  Surely, Jesus had witnessed the vast sums of money which the wealthy had already placed in the treasury.

            Jesus responds by observing, “For all of them [the rich] have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

            When we reflect for a moment, there are really just four reasons that persons contribute to charitable organizations, such as religious institutions:

1.      Out of a sense of duty, obligation, or guilt.

2.      To honor or glorify themselves or another person.

3.      Out of a sense of gratitude

4.      Because they believe that their gift will make a difference in God’s ministry to the world

Obviously, it is better and more desirable to give out of a sense of gratitude—or, because we believe that our gift will make a real difference improving the condition of the world.  And, it is these two motivations which enable stewardship to become an important, transformational spiritual practice in our lives.

If you live in the Lincoln, Nebraska area and do not have a place of worship, then I invite you to come and join us at Christ United Methodist Church this Sunday, October 20th, as we discover how financial stewardship supporting our church can become a spiritual practice which enables us to grow closer to God.  

Christ UMC is located at 4530 “A” Street.  We have three worship services on Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00.  The 8:30 and 11:00 services feature a traditional worship format and the services are held in our Sanctuary.  “The Gathering” at 9:45 is held in our Family Life Center (gym), and it is more informal and interactive.   

Come, join us.  Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.