Friday | July 30, 2010

Fall Campaign Sample Speaker

“Faithful Stewards of God’s Infinite Grace”

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

In previous presentations related to our annual stewardship emphasis, we have considered that God is the owner of everything and that we are managers and stewards of what God has entrusted to us. We defined a steward as one who is responsible to transact the business of another. A steward is not an owner, but the representative of the owner. A steward is one who manages that which belongs to someone else. We also considered how time and talents are gifts on loan to us from God which we can use to glorify God and to be a blessing to others.

Someone likened “total stewardship” to a three-legged stool consisting of time, talents and treasure. If any of the three legs are removed, the stool cannot stand. With that thought in mind, we turn our attention to the treasure aspect of total stewardship.

Inevitably, whenever the discussion turns to money in the church, some will complain and criticize. Others incorrectly assert that “all the church ever talks about is money.” Let’s face it — money is an important subject to God. We come to that conclusion because of the great importance God places on money in the Bible. For example, there are more Scripture verses dealing with money, material possessions and giving than with heaven and hell combined. In fact, there are more Scripture verses dealing with money than with faith. And Jesus talked more about money in His parables than any other single subject. It is virtually impossible to overlook the fact that God thinks money is important.

Randy Alcorn wrote:

I might feel a little better trying to squirm out of responsibility for some minor or obscure teaching of Scripture. “I just didn’t understand it, Lord. It was unclear. You really didn’t give us much to go on.” But I can’t help but feel that if I plead ignorance in this area of money and possessions, God is liable to say to me, “I spent a large part of the Bible teaching you about money and possessions — what more would you have wanted me to say than what I said? Was your problem that these passages were unclear— or that they were too clear?

You see, how we use our money will directly reflect our view of God and our view of ourselves. If God owns it all, and if we are just managers and stewards of what rightfully belongs to God, then we will use God’s resources differently than if we think that the financial resources in our grasp actually belong to us.

Please listen to Randy Alcorn once again:

I am a pastor. My background is not in economics, investments, or accounting. My background is in biblical studies, theology, teaching, and counseling. . . .the Bible, my interactions with others, and my personal experience all speak with one voice in affirming something profound and revolutionary. They substantiate what the greatest Theologian, Teacher and Counselor [Jesus Christ] knew only too well — that the issue of money and possessions lies at the very heart of the Christian life. . . .[It’s what] Martin Luther recognized when he said that for each of us, there must be not only the conversion of the heart and mind, but also the conversion of the purse.

Let’s face it — compared to other nations of the earth, God has blessed all of us abundantly. And if we are to take the Scriptures seriously, we will see that we are to use the resources that have been entrusted to us for God’s glory, for the good of others, and for this ministry. Please be thinking and praying about the financial commitment God is asking you to do make at __. And then ask God to give you a spirit of willing obedience in the days ahead.