The season of stewardship is upon us. We will hear about year-end giving, tax planning, and budgets. So many times stewardship is equated with money – tithing, special giving, fund raising and debt reduction. However, neither the Bible nor Google use money in the definition of stewardship.
Webster Dictionary
Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.
Wikipedia
Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world and should take care and look after it.
Christianity
Most Christians believe God gave human beings a special responsibility within creation to cultivate it, guard it and use it wisely.
Stewardship is care and balance. It is responsibly using, well, anything.
Care means concern. How do you feel about all the things around you? The last time you purchased an item, did you think about the time it will take to care for it? You spent your resources to enjoy it. Now you need to dust it, place it, move it, store it, keep it, care for it. Does your need for it balance with the effort it will take to have it?
Balance is not necessarily equal distribution. It is the best distribution. Contemplate the use of your time. Have you noticed that a job takes as long as we give it? I am more productive when I have a lot to do. Momentum takes over and everything gets done faster. Remember when gas prices rose, and we began combining our errand trips. Did you give that up when the prices reduced? It was a good way to be a good steward towards the environment, your car, and your time.
Dana Aycox, Controller
United Methodist Foundation
Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash