STEWARDSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP TOGETHER #3 

                         OWNING NOTHING AND NEEDING EVERYTHING

 

            Continuing my discussion on stewardship and discipleship, I want to focus on another statement previously shared:

            We own nothing and need everything.[1]

            Last week’s statement was the complete opposite, with God owning everything and needing nothing. This week the statement is from our vantagepoint.

            We are stewards, not owners.

            These are the scriptures that the article by Christian Stewardship Network cites about the ownership by God:

John 3:27 -  “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 5:15: “As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.”

1 Timothy 6:7: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Corinthians 4:7: “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

            Each of these scriptures talk about how we came into the world with nothing. That means nothing that we have is ours. Too often (and I’ve done this myself), when we are introducing the time of giving during a worship service, we say that it is our opportunity to give back to God some of what we’ve been given.

            While that may be true, I think it also implies that we have ownership of stuff that we are sharing with others and with God. That ignores the fact that what we hold in our hands isn’t ours.

            As a steward, we are tasked with caring for what is owned by another. Since we own nothing, we actually need everything.

            As I said last week, God created, God owns, and God doesn’t NEED anything.

            As we continue to discuss stewardship and discipleship in the upcoming summer weeks, to help us prepare for our stewardship and discipleship often done in the fall, remember, stewardship and discipleship have to work together. One cannot exist without the other. We aren’t effective stewards if we aren’t disciples, and we aren’t disciples if we aren’t using the resources give to us to further God’s kingdom.

            Stay tuned for this ongoing stewardship conversation.

            If you wish more information on this or would like to discuss stewardship and its relationship with discipleship, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or sranousacctg@twcny.rr.com. I’d be happy to help.

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[1] Stewardship Education that Builds Disciples, Furlong, Jessica and Dick, Don (Christian Stewardship Network), https://www.christianstewardshipnetwork.com.