When churches approach the beginning of a new fiscal year, thoughts turn to financial stewardship and, in most cases, pledges by congregational members.  In my church, with the beginning of our fiscal year on July 1^st, we have begun a series of home-based discussion groups on the topic of financial stewardship.  The real topic, however, is the stewardship of community.

This past year, my congregation has had a Stewardship workgroup.  They are a wonderful team of people who have studied and discussed the idea of stewardship and who are currently guiding the church’s financial stewardship campaign.  This team, with the help of an outside consultant, developed an excellent working definition of stewardship.  Stewardship is a life long spiritual journey of recognizing our God-given gifts and calling us to a more intimate relationship with God and others.  This journey results in a personal change of heart and a reorientation of our lives to furthering God’s Kingdom here on earth by using and sharing our gifts lovingly in justice with others.   

I have learned a lot through our year together and the process of studying and talking about stewardship.  I have also begun to learn some important things from the home-based discussion groups.  Stewardship is a “life-long process,” a spiritual journey.  It is a matter of learning to put “first things first” with the ultimate goals of realizing our own potential in partnership with the Spirit and growing closer to God and to others.

Stewardship, like discipline, cannot ultimately be imposed from the outside.  It is a matter of inner transformation and personal commitment.  It includes the choices each of us makes about our time, talents, and treasures. 

I have learned a lot about the balance between asking clearly for what you want and pressuring people.  The former is essential.  The latter is worse than non-productive.  Knowing that this balance is dynamic, not static, I apologize in advance for losing my balance at times.  My goal is not to pressure anyone to give.  It is not to pressure anyone to be involved.  It is not to pressure anyone to do anything!  My goal is to be clear with you what I think and what I think is important.  It is to be available to respond to your questions and thoughts.  It is to ask you clearly for what I think the church needs.  It is to encourage you to take the space and time to think and reflect on your values and priorities.  The core questions regarding stewardship are:  “What do you feel God inviting you to do in your life?”  “How can the church support and encourage you in that?”  “What do you see God calling the church to do?”  “How do you feel God calling you to support the church in that?”

It really is that simple and also that difficult.  The movement of our society and culture is toward getting us to value commodities more than relationships.  Sometimes it is to value relationships as commodities.  Always, the answer seems to lie outside us.  In a sense, this is a way of devaluing us.   The lesson of Sabbath is that we are fully acceptable and accepted.  We can experience abundance in all that ultimately mattes and possess lives filled with possibility.  God invites us through the Spirit to a calling in life that feeds us and also contributes to the transformation of the world according to the vision of God’s Shalom.  In these days of activity, stress, and opportunity, keep in mind that the lesson of Sabbath is that the value of your life is intrinsic – already in you – and that your life and its intrinsic value is a gift from God.

Thanks for continuing to bless me on the journey.

--Jack Price

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